Input device and user interface interactions

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, a device displays functionality information in response to receiving an indication of a first input for which a contact meets functionality display criteria. In some embodiments, a device generates a user interface that includes a navigation bar including images from different positions in a respective content item, and a representation of an adjacent content item. In some embodiments, a device moves a selection-indicator in a user interface by a predefined amount in response to receiving an indication of a first input that meets unitary movement criteria. In some embodiments, a device interprets movement of a contact of an input based at least in part on a grip of a user. In some embodiments, a device displays a plurality of character selection options when a text entry field is not tolerant of character ambiguity and a first input corresponds to a plurality of candidate characters.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/749,288 (now U.S. Publication No. US-2015/0370455) filed on Jun. 24,2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/016,593 filed on Jun. 24, 2014, the entire disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This relates generally to electronic devices with which interaction isaccomplished using touch-sensitive surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

User interaction with devices such as computers and other electroniccomputing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Thesedevices can be devices such as computers, tablet computers, televisions,multimedia devices, and the like, and these devices can present userinterfaces to users to facilitate the above interaction.

Interaction with the above devices can be performed using various inputdevices, such as touch screen displays, touch-sensitive surfaces, remotecontrols, mice and other input devices. Touch-sensitive surfaces andtouch screen displays, in particular, have become increasingly popularinput devices. Providing for robust user interface-input deviceinteraction enhances the user's experience with the device and decreasesuser interaction time, which is particularly important where inputdevices are battery-operated.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The embodiments described in this disclosure are directed to one or moredevices that optionally display functionality information, display acontent navigation bar, provide for predefined movement in a userinterface in response to specified inputs, determine a user's grip of adevice, and display a character recognition user interface, and one ormore actions that the devices optionally perform that are related to theabove. The full descriptions of the embodiments are provided in theDrawings and the Detailed Description, and it is understood that theSummary provided above does not limit the scope of the disclosure in anyway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments,reference should be made to the Detailed Description below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a multifunction device with atouch-sensitive display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a multifunction device having a touch screen inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary user interface for a multifunctiondevice with a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the displayin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary architecture for thedevice according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6G illustrate exemplary ways in which functionality informationis presented in a user interface in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIGS. 7A-7G are flow diagrams illustrating a method of displayingfunctionality information in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-8G illustrate exemplary ways in which a content navigation baris presented in a user interface in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure.

FIGS. 9A-9G are flow diagrams illustrating a method of presenting acontent navigation bar in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate exemplary ways in which an electronic devicemoves a cursor in a user interface by a predefined amount in accordancewith some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 11A-11D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of moving a cursorin a user interface by a predefined amount in accordance with someembodiments.

FIGS. 12A-12E illustrate exemplary ways in which inputs on atouch-sensitive surface are interpreted based on the grip of a user inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 13A-13C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of interpreting aninput detected on a touch-sensitive surface based on the grip of a userin accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate exemplary ways in which an electronic devicepresents a handwritten input user interface according to someembodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 15A-15D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of detectinghandwritten input in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 16-20 are functional block diagrams of electronic devices inaccordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of embodiments, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments that are optionallypracticed. It is to be understood that other embodiments are optionallyused and structural changes are optionally made without departing fromthe scope of the disclosed embodiments.

Exemplary Devices

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, andassociated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunctiondevices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad®devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronicdevices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitivesurfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), are,optionally, used. It should also be understood that, in someembodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but isa desktop computer or a television with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,a touch screen display and/or a touch pad). In some embodiments, thedevice does not have a touch screen display and/or a touch pad, butrather is capable of outputting display information (such as the userinterfaces of the disclosure) for display on a separate display device,and capable of receiving input information from a separate input devicehaving one or more input mechanisms (such as one or more buttons, atouch screen display and/or a touch pad). In some embodiments, thedevice has a display, but is capable of receiving input information froma separate input device having one or more input mechanisms (such as oneor more buttons, a touch screen display and/or a touch pad).

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device optionally includes oneor more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physicalkeyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick. Further, as described above, itshould be understood that the described electronic device, display andtouch-sensitive surface are optionally distributed amongst two or moredevices. Therefore, as used in this disclosure, information displayed onthe electronic device or by the electronic device is optionally used todescribe information outputted by the electronic device for display on aseparate display device (touch-sensitive or not). Similarly, as used inthis disclosure, input received on the electronic device (e.g., touchinput received on a touch-sensitive surface of the electronic device) isoptionally used to describe input received on a separate input device,from which the electronic device receives input information.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, a television channelbrowsing application, and/or a digital video player application.

The various applications that are executed on the device optionally useat least one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the deviceare, optionally, adjusted and/or varied from one application to the nextand/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physicalarchitecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the deviceoptionally supports the variety of applications with user interfacesthat are intuitive and transparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable or non-portabledevices with touch-sensitive displays, though the devices need notinclude touch-sensitive displays or displays in general, as describedabove. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating portable or non-portablemultifunction device 100 with touch-sensitive displays 112 in accordancewith some embodiments. Touch-sensitive display 112 is sometimes called a“touch screen” for convenience, and is sometimes known as or called atouch-sensitive display system. Device 100 includes memory 102 (whichoptionally includes one or more computer readable storage mediums),memory controller 122, one or more processing units (CPU's) 120,peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110,speaker 111, microphone 113, input/output (I/O) subsystem 106, otherinput or control devices 116, and external port 124. Device 100optionally includes one or more optical sensors 164. Device 100optionally includes one or more intensity sensors 165 for detectingintensity of contacts on device 100 (e.g., a touch-sensitive surfacesuch as touch-sensitive display system 112 of device 100). Device 100optionally includes one or more tactile output generators 167 forgenerating tactile outputs on device 100 (e.g., generating tactileoutputs on a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive displaysystem 112 of device 100 or touchpad 355 of device 300). Thesecomponents optionally communicate over one or more communication busesor signal lines 103.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of acontact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure(force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on thetouch-sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force orpressure of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. The intensity of acontact has a range of values that includes at least four distinctvalues and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., atleast 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (ormeasured) using various approaches and various sensors or combinationsof sensors. For example, one or more force sensors underneath oradjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measureforce at various points on the touch-sensitive surface. In someimplementations, force measurements from multiple force sensors arecombined (e.g., a weighted average) to determine an estimated force of acontact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally,used to determine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitivesurface. Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on thetouch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of thetouch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto,and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to thecontact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute forthe force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Insome implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force orpressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity thresholdhas been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in unitscorresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations,the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are convertedto an estimated force or pressure and the estimated force or pressure isused to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded(e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in unitsof pressure).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output”refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previousposition of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component(e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relativeto a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user withthe user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the deviceor the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a userthat is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of auser's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacementwill be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding toa perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or thecomponent of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally,interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physicalactuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensationsuch as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement ofa physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surfacethat is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. Asanother example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally,interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitivesurface, even when there is no change in smoothness of thetouch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a userwill be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user,there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a largemajority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described ascorresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “upclick,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, thegenerated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of thedevice or a component thereof that will generate the described sensoryperception for a typical (or average) user.

It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example of aportable or non-portable multifunction device, and that device 100optionally has more or fewer components than shown, optionally combinestwo or more components, or optionally has a different configuration orarrangement of the components. The various components shown in FIG. 1Aare implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardwareand software, including one or more signal processing and/or applicationspecific integrated circuits. Further, the various components shown inFIG. 1A are optionally implemented across two or more devices; forexample, a display and audio circuitry on a display device, atouch-sensitive surface on an input device, and remaining components ondevice 100. In such an embodiment, device 100 optionally communicateswith the display device and/or the input device to facilitate operationof the system, as described in the disclosure, and the variouscomponents described herein that relate to display and/or input remainin device 100, or are optionally included in the display and/or inputdevice, as appropriate.

Memory 102 optionally includes high-speed random access memory andoptionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 102 by othercomponents of device 100, such as CPU 120 and the peripherals interface118, is, optionally, controlled by memory controller 122.

Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or moreprocessors 120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 102 to perform various functions fordevice 100 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 118, CPU 120, and memorycontroller 122 are, optionally, implemented on a single chip, such aschip 104. In some other embodiments, they are, optionally, implementedon separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 optionally includes well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 108 optionally communicates with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network(MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wirelesscommunication optionally uses any of a plurality of communicationsstandards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited toGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO),HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), nearfield communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a,IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet messageaccess protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instantmessaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP),Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and PresenceLeveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service(IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitablecommunication protocol, including communication protocols not yetdeveloped as of the filing date of this document.

Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry 110 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 111.Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 113 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data is, optionally,retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108by peripherals interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110also includes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jackprovides an interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device 100, suchas touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116, to peripheralsinterface 118. I/O subsystem 106 optionally includes display controller156, optical sensor controller 158, intensity sensor controller 159,haptic feedback controller 161 and one or more input controllers 160 forother input or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices116. The other input control devices 116 optionally include physicalbuttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, sliderswitches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternateembodiments, input controller(s) 160 are, optionally, coupled to any (ornone) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and apointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208, FIG.2) optionally include an up/down button for volume control of speaker111 and/or microphone 113. The one or more buttons optionally include apush button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2).

Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. As described above, thetouch-sensitive operation and the display operation of touch-sensitivedisplay 112 are optionally separated from each other, such that adisplay device is used for display purposes and a touch-sensitivesurface (whether display or not) is used for input detection purposes,and the described components and functions are modified accordingly.However, for simplicity, the following description is provided withreference to a touch-sensitive display. Display controller 156 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 112. Touch screen112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output optionallyincludes graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof(collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all ofthe visual output corresponds to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 (along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detect contact (andany movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 112 andconverts the detected contact into interaction with user-interfaceobjects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) thatare displayed on touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a pointof contact between touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a fingerof the user.

Touch screen 112 optionally uses LCD (liquid crystal display)technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED(light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologiesare used in other embodiments. Touch screen 112 and display controller156 optionally detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof usingany of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or laterdeveloped, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared,and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximitysensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points ofcontact with touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projectedmutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Touch screen 112 optionally has a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi.In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution ofapproximately 160 dpi. The user optionally makes contact with touchscreen 112 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, afinger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface isdesigned to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures,which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger areaof contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, thedevice translates the rough finger-based input into a precisepointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired bythe user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 100optionally includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating ordeactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad isa touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad is, optionally, atouch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen 112 or anextension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 162 optionally includes a power managementsystem, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current(AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a powerconverter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emittingdiode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable or non-portabledevices.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more optical sensors 164.FIG. 1A shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 158in I/O subsystem 106. Optical sensor 164 optionally includescharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor 164 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 143(also called a camera module), optical sensor 164 optionally capturesstill images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is locatedon the back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112 on thefront of the device, so that the touch screen display is enabled for useas a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image is, optionally, obtained forvideoconferencing while the user views the other video conferenceparticipants on the touch screen display.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more contact intensitysensors 165. FIG. 1A shows a contact intensity sensor coupled tointensity sensor controller 159 in I/O subsystem 106. Contact intensitysensor 165 optionally includes one or more piezoresistive strain gauges,capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectric forcesensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces, orother intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure the force (orpressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contact intensitysensor 165 receives contact intensity information (e.g., pressureinformation or a proxy for pressure information) from the environment.In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is collocatedwith, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitivedisplay system 112). In some embodiments, at least one contact intensitysensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screendisplay 112 which is located on the front of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors 166.FIG. 1A shows proximity sensor 166 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, proximity sensor 166 is coupled to input controller 160 inI/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns offand disables touch screen 112 when the multifunction device is placednear the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more tactile outputgenerators 167. FIG. 1A shows a tactile output generator coupled tohaptic feedback controller 161 in I/O subsystem 106. Tactile outputgenerator 167 optionally includes one or more electroacoustic devicessuch as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanicaldevices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor,solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostaticactuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., acomponent that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on thedevice). Contact intensity sensor 165 receives tactile feedbackgeneration instructions from haptic feedback module 133 and generatestactile outputs on device 100 that are capable of being sensed by a userof device 100. In some embodiments, at least one tactile outputgenerator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112) and, optionally, generates atactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g.,in/out of a surface of device 100) or laterally (e.g., back and forth inthe same plane as a surface of device 100). In some embodiments, atleast one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back ofdevice 100, opposite touch screen display 112 which is located on thefront of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more accelerometers 168. FIG.1A shows accelerometer 168 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, accelerometer 168 is, optionally, coupled to an inputcontroller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, information isdisplayed on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscapeview based on an analysis of data received from the one or moreaccelerometers. Device 100 optionally includes, in addition toaccelerometer(s) 168, a magnetometer (not shown) and a GPS (or GLONASSor other global navigation system) receiver (not shown) for obtaininginformation concerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait orlandscape) of device 100.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102include operating system 126, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130,graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, text input module (or setof instructions) 134, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 135, and applications (or sets of instructions) 136.Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 102 stores device/globalinternal state 157, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 3. Device/global internalstate 157 includes one or more of: active application state, indicatingwhich applications, if any, are currently active; display state,indicating what applications, views or other information occupy variousregions of touch screen display 112; sensor state, including informationobtained from the device's various sensors and input control devices116; and location information concerning the device's location and/orattitude.

Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, oran embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various softwarecomponents and/or drivers for controlling and managing general systemtasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Communication module 128 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 124 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 108 and/orexternal port 124. External port 124 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). Insome embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects contact with touch screen112 (in conjunction with display controller 156) and othertouch-sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel).Contact/motion module 130 includes various software components forperforming various operations related to detection of contact, such asdetermining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-downevent), determining an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force orpressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of thecontact) determining if there is movement of the contact and trackingthe movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one ormore finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased(e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact).Contact/motion module 130 receives contact data from the touch-sensitivesurface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which isrepresented by a series of contact data, optionally includes determiningspeed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or anacceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point ofcontact. These operations are, optionally, applied to single contacts(e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments,contact/motion module 130 and display controller 156 detect contact on atouchpad.

In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 uses a set of one or moreintensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has beenperformed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” onan icon). In some embodiments at least a subset of the intensitythresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g.,the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholdsof particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changingthe physical hardware of device 100). For example, a mouse “click”threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of alarge range of predefined thresholds values without changing thetrackpad or touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in someimplementations a user of the device is provided with software settingsfor adjusting one or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., byadjusting individual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting aplurality of intensity thresholds at once with a system-level click“intensity” parameter).

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns and intensities. Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected bydetecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a fingertap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detectinga finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially thesame position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of anicon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on thetouch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followedby detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequentlyfollowed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 132 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 112 or other display,including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness,transparency, saturation, contrast or other visual property) of graphicsthat are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes anyobject that can be displayed to a user, including without limitationtext, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including softkeys), digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned acorresponding code. Graphics module 132 receives, from applicationsetc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with,if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and thengenerates screen image data to output to display controller 156.

Haptic feedback module 133 includes various software components forgenerating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 167 toproduce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 100 inresponse to user interactions with device 100.

Text input module 134, which is, optionally, a component of graphicsmodule 132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in variousapplications (e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147, andany other application that needs text input).

GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138 foruse in location-based dialing, to camera 143 as picture/video metadata,and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 136 optionally include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact        list);    -   telephone module 138;    -   video conferencing module 139;    -   e-mail client module 140;    -   instant messaging (IM) module 141;    -   workout support module 142;    -   camera module 143 for still and/or video images;    -   image management module 144;    -   browser module 147;    -   calendar module 148;    -   widget modules 149, which optionally include one or more of:        weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget        149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and        other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created        widgets 149-6;    -   widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;    -   search module 151;    -   video and music player module 152, which is, optionally, made up        of a video player module and a music player module;    -   notes module 153;    -   map module 154;    -   online video module 155.

Examples of other applications 136 that are, optionally, stored inmemory 102 include other word processing applications, other imageediting applications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, contactsmodule 137 are, optionally, used to manage an address book or contactlist (e.g., stored in application internal state 192 of contacts module137 in memory 102 or memory 370), including: adding name(s) to theaddress book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associatingtelephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or otherinformation with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizingand sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses toinitiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone 138, videoconference 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, telephone module138 are, optionally, used to enter a sequence of characterscorresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephonenumbers in address book 137, modify a telephone number that has beenentered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation anddisconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As notedabove, the wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality ofcommunications standards, protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephone module 138,videoconferencing module 139 includes executable instructions toinitiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user andone or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, e-mail client module 140 includes executable instructions tocreate, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to userinstructions. In conjunction with image management module 144, e-mailclient module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mails withstill or video images taken with camera module 143.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the instant messaging module 141 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages optionally include graphics, photos, audio files, videofiles and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or anEnhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging”refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMSor MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP,SIMPLE, or IMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music player module 146,workout support module 142 includes executable instructions to createworkouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals);communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workoutsensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select andplay music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, opticalsensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130,graphics module 132, and image management module 144, camera module 143includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 102, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 102.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and cameramodule 143, image management module 144 includes executable instructionsto arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete,present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/orvideo images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, browser module 147 includes executable instructions tobrowse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, calendarmodule 148 includes executable instructions to create, display, modify,and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendarentries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, widget modules 149 aremini-applications that are, optionally, downloaded and used by a user(e.g., weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or createdby the user (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, awidget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS(Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In someembodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) fileand a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 are,optionally, used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning auser-specified portion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134,search module 151 includes executable instructions to search for text,music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 102 that matchone or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified searchterms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, video and music playermodule 152 includes executable instructions that allow the user todownload and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., ontouch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via external port124). In some embodiments, device 100 optionally includes thefunctionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of AppleInc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, notes module153 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to dolists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, map module 154 are,optionally, used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and dataassociated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and otherpoints of interest at or near a particular location; and otherlocation-based data) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140,and browser module 147, online video module 155 includes instructionsthat allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streamingand/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on anexternal, connected display via external port 124), send an e-mail witha link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videosin one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instantmessaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used tosend a link to a particular online video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (e.g., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined orotherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 102 optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 102 optionally stores additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad (whether included in device 100or on a separate device, such as an input device). By using a touchscreen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device foroperation of device 100, the number of physical input control devices(such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device 100 is,optionally, reduced.

The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through atouch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation betweenuser interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by theuser, navigates device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that is displayed on device 100. In some embodiments, a “menubutton” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, themenu button is a physical push button or other physical input controldevice instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 102 (in FIG. 1A) or 370 (FIG. 3) includes event sorter 170 (e.g.,in operating system 126) and a respective application 136-1 (e.g., anyof the aforementioned applications 137-151, 155, 380-390).

Event sorter 170 receives event information and determines theapplication 136-1 and application view 191 of application 136-1 to whichto deliver the event information. Event sorter 170 includes eventmonitor 171 and event dispatcher module 174. In some embodiments,application 136-1 includes application internal state 192, whichindicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch-sensitivedisplay 112 when the application is active or executing. In someembodiments, device/global internal state 157 is used by event sorter170 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, andapplication internal state 192 is used by event sorter 170 to determineapplication views 191 to which to deliver event information.

In some embodiments, application internal state 192 includes additionalinformation, such as one or more of: resume information to be used whenapplication 136-1 resumes execution, user interface state informationthat indicates information being displayed or that is ready for displayby application 136-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back toa prior state or view of application 136-1, and a redo/undo queue ofprevious actions taken by the user.

Event monitor 171 receives event information from peripherals interface118. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., auser touch on touch-sensitive display 112, as part of a multi-touchgesture). Peripherals interface 118 transmits information it receivesfrom I/O subsystem 106 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor 166,accelerometer(s) 168, and/or microphone 113 (through audio circuitry110). Information that peripherals interface 118 receives from I/Osubsystem 106 includes information from touch-sensitive display 112 or atouch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, event monitor 171 sends requests to the peripheralsinterface 118 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripheralsinterface 118 transmits event information. In other embodiments,peripheral interface 118 transmits event information only when there isa significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predeterminednoise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).

In some embodiments, event sorter 170 also includes a hit viewdetermination module 172 and/or an active event recognizer determinationmodule 173.

Hit view determination module 172 provides software procedures fordetermining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views,when touch-sensitive display 112 displays more than one view. Views aremade up of controls and other elements that a user can see on thedisplay.

Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is aset of views, sometimes herein called application views or userinterface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-basedgestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) inwhich a touch is detected optionally correspond to programmatic levelswithin a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example,the lowest level view in which a touch is detected is, optionally,called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as properinputs are, optionally, determined based, at least in part, on the hitview of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture.

Hit view determination module 172 receives information related tosub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multipleviews organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 172identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which shouldhandle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowestlevel view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (e.g., the firstsub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potentialevent). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determinationmodule, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to thesame touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view.

Active event recognizer determination module 173 determines which viewor views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence ofsub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determinationmodule 173 determines that only the hit view should receive a particularsequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizerdetermination module 173 determines that all views that include thephysical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, andtherefore determines that all actively involved views should receive aparticular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touchsub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with oneparticular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain asactively involved views.

Event dispatcher module 174 dispatches the event information to an eventrecognizer (e.g., event recognizer 180). In embodiments including activeevent recognizer determination module 173, event dispatcher module 174delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined byactive event recognizer determination module 173. In some embodiments,event dispatcher module 174 stores in an event queue the eventinformation, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module182.

In some embodiments, operating system 126 includes event sorter 170.Alternatively, application 136-1 includes event sorter 170. In yet otherembodiments, event sorter 170 is a stand-alone module, or a part ofanother module stored in memory 102, such as contact/motion module 130.

In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes a plurality of eventhandlers 190 and one or more application views 191, each of whichincludes instructions for handling touch events that occur within arespective view of the application's user interface. Each applicationview 191 of the application 136-1 includes one or more event recognizers180. Typically, a respective application view 191 includes a pluralityof event recognizers 180. In other embodiments, one or more of eventrecognizers 180 are part of a separate module, such as a user interfacekit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 136-1inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent handler 190 includes one or more of: data updater 176, objectupdater 177, GUI updater 178, and/or event data 179 received from eventsorter 170. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater176, object updater 177 or GUI updater 178 to update the applicationinternal state 192. Alternatively, one or more of the application views191 includes one or more respective event handlers 190. Also, in someembodiments, one or more of data updater 176, object updater 177, andGUI updater 178 are included in a respective application view 191.

A respective event recognizer 180 receives event information (e.g.,event data 179) from event sorter 170, and identifies an event from theevent information. Event recognizer 180 includes event receiver 182 andevent comparator 184. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 alsoincludes at least a subset of: metadata 183, and event deliveryinstructions 188 (which optionally include sub-event deliveryinstructions).

Event receiver 182 receives event information from event sorter 170. Theevent information includes information about a sub-event, for example, atouch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the eventinformation also includes additional information, such as location ofthe sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the eventinformation optionally also includes speed and direction of thesub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the devicefrom one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to alandscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event informationincludes corresponding information about the current orientation (alsocalled device attitude) of the device.

Event comparator 184 compares the event information to predefined eventor sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines anevent or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event orsub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 includes eventdefinitions 186. Event definitions 186 contain definitions of events(e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1(187-1), event 2 (187-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events inan event 187 include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touchmovement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, thedefinition for event 1 (187-1) is a double tap on a displayed object.The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) onthe displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touchend) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on thedisplayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touchend) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition forevent 2 (187-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, forexample, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for apredetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments,the event also includes information for one or more associated eventhandlers 190.

In some embodiments, event definition 187 includes a definition of anevent for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, eventcomparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which user-interfaceobject is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an applicationview in which three user-interface objects are displayed ontouch-sensitive display 112, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine whichof the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch(sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respectiveevent handler 190, the event comparator uses the result of the hit testto determine which event handler 190 should be activated. For example,event comparator 184 selects an event handler associated with thesub-event and the object triggering the hit test.

In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event 187 alsoincludes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event informationuntil after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-eventsdoes or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.

When a respective event recognizer 180 determines that the series ofsub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 186, therespective event recognizer 180 enters an event impossible, eventfailed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequentsub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other eventrecognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue totrack and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 includes metadata183 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate howthe event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to activelyinvolved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includesconfigurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how eventrecognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. Insome embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags,and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varyinglevels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 activates eventhandler 190 associated with an event when one or more particularsub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent recognizer 180 delivers event information associated with theevent to event handler 190. Activating an event handler 190 is distinctfrom sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view.In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 throws a flag associated withthe recognized event, and event handler 190 associated with the flagcatches the flag and performs a predefined process.

In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 188 include sub-eventdelivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-eventwithout activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event deliveryinstructions deliver event information to event handlers associated withthe series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlersassociated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved viewsreceive the event information and perform a predetermined process.

In some embodiments, data updater 176 creates and updates data used inapplication 136-1. For example, data updater 176 updates the telephonenumber used in contacts module 137, or stores a video file used in videoplayer module 145. In some embodiments, object updater 177 creates andupdates objects used in application 136-1. For example, object updater176 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of auser-interface object. GUI updater 178 updates the GUI. For example, GUIupdater 178 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module132 for display on a touch-sensitive display.

In some embodiments, event handler(s) 190 includes or has access to dataupdater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178. In someembodiments, data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178are included in a single module of a respective application 136-1 orapplication view 191. In other embodiments, they are included in two ormore software modules.

It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding eventhandling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays and/or touchpadsalso applies to other forms of user inputs to operate multifunctiondevices 100 with input-devices, not all of which are initiated on touchscreens. For example, mouse movement and mouse button presses,optionally coordinated with single or multiple keyboard presses orholds; contact movements such as taps, drags, scrolls, etc., ontouch-pads; pen stylus inputs; movement of the device; oralinstructions; detected eye movements; biometric inputs; and/or anycombination thereof are optionally utilized as inputs corresponding tosub-events which define an event to be recognized.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable or non-portable multifunction device 100having a touch screen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. As statedabove, multifunction device 100 is described as having the variousillustrated structures (such as touch screen 112, speaker 111,accelerometer 168, microphone 113, etc.); however, it is understood thatthese structures optionally reside on separate devices. For example,display-related structures (e.g., display, speaker, etc.) and/orfunctions optionally reside on a separate display device, input-relatedstructures (e.g., touch-sensitive surface, microphone, accelerometer,etc.) and/or functions optionally reside on a separate input device, andremaining structures and/or functions optionally reside on multifunctiondevice 100.

The touch screen 112 optionally displays one or more graphics withinuser interface (UI) 200. In this embodiment, as well as others describedbelow, a user is enabled to select one or more of the graphics by makinga gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202(not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses 203 (notdrawn to scale in the figure). In some embodiments, selection of one ormore graphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the one or moregraphics. In some embodiments, the gesture optionally includes one ormore taps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upwardand/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, leftto right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with device 100.In some implementations or circumstances, inadvertent contact with agraphic does not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture thatsweeps over an application icon optionally does not select thecorresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection isa tap.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more physical buttons, suchas “home” or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204is, optionally, used to navigate to any application 136 in a set ofapplications that are, optionally executed on device 100. Alternatively,in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in aGUI displayed on touch screen 112.

In one embodiment, device 100 includes touch screen 112, menu button204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and docking/charging externalport 124. Push button 206 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/offon the device by depressing the button and holding the button in thedepressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device bydepressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device 100 also acceptsverbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions throughmicrophone 113. Device 100 also, optionally, includes one or morecontact intensity sensors 165 for detecting intensity of contacts ontouch screen 112 and/or one or more tactile output generators 167 forgenerating tactile outputs for a user of device 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments. Device 300 need not include the display and thetouch-sensitive surface, as described above, but rather, in someembodiments, optionally communicates with the display and thetouch-sensitive surface on other devices. Additionally, device 300 neednot be portable. In some embodiments, device 300 is a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a tablet computer, a multimedia player device (such asa television or a set-top box), a navigation device, an educationaldevice (such as a child's learning toy), a gaming system, or a controldevice (e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device 300 typicallyincludes one or more processing units (CPU's) 310, one or more networkor other communications interfaces 360, memory 370, and one or morecommunication buses 320 for interconnecting these components.Communication buses 320 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called achipset) that interconnects and controls communications between systemcomponents. Device 300 includes input/output (I/O) interface 330comprising display 340, which is typically a touch screen display. I/Ointerface 330 also optionally includes a keyboard and/or mouse (or otherpointing device) 350 and touchpad 355, tactile output generator 357 forgenerating tactile outputs on device 300 (e.g., similar to tactileoutput generator(s) 167 described above with reference to FIG. 1A),sensors 359 (e.g., optical, acceleration, proximity, touch-sensitive,and/or contact intensity sensors similar to contact intensity sensor(s)165 described above with reference to FIG. 1A). Memory 370 includeshigh-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or otherrandom access solid state memory devices; and optionally includesnon-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices,optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 370 optionally includesone or more storage devices remotely located from CPU(s) 310. In someembodiments, memory 370 stores programs, modules, and data structuresanalogous to the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory102 of portable or non-portable multifunction device 100 (FIG. 1A), or asubset thereof. Furthermore, memory 370 optionally stores additionalprograms, modules, and data structures not present in memory 102 ofportable or non-portable multifunction device 100. For example, memory370 of device 300 optionally stores drawing module 380, presentationmodule 382, word processing module 384, website creation module 386,disk authoring module 388, and/or spreadsheet module 390, while memory102 of portable or non-portable multifunction device 100 (FIG. 1A)optionally does not store these modules.

Each of the above identified elements in FIG. 3 are, optionally, storedin one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of theabove identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions forperforming a function described above. The above identified modules orprograms (e.g., sets of instructions) need not be implemented asseparate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus varioussubsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 370optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identifiedabove. Furthermore, memory 370 optionally stores additional modules anddata structures not described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device (e.g., device300, FIG. 3) with a touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., a tablet ortouchpad 355, FIG. 3) that is separate from the display 450 (e.g., touchscreen display 112). Device 300 also, optionally, includes one or morecontact intensity sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors 357) fordetecting intensity of contacts on touch-sensitive surface 451 and/orone or more tactile output generators 359 for generating tactile outputsfor a user of device 300.

Although some of the examples which follow will be given with referenceto inputs on touch screen display 112 (where the touch sensitive surfaceand the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detectsinputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display,as shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments the touch sensitive surface(e.g., 451 in FIG. 4) has a primary axis (e.g., 452 in FIG. 4) thatcorresponds to a primary axis (e.g., 453 in FIG. 4) on the display(e.g., 450). In accordance with these embodiments, the device detectscontacts (e.g., 460 and 462 in FIG. 4) with the touch-sensitive surface451 at locations that correspond to respective locations on the display(e.g., in FIG. 4, 460 corresponds to 468 and 462 corresponds to 470). Inthis way, user inputs (e.g., contacts 460 and 462, and movementsthereof) detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,451 in FIG. 4) are used by the device to manipulate the user interfaceon the display (e.g., 450 in FIG. 4) of the multifunction device whenthe touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should beunderstood that similar methods are, optionally, used for other userinterfaces described herein.

Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily withreference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures,finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in someembodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with inputfrom another input device (e.g., a mouse based input or stylus input).For example, a swipe gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click(e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor alongthe path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). Asanother example, a tap gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouseclick while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture(e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detectthe contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneouslydetected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice are,optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are,optionally, used simultaneously.

As used herein, the term “focus selector” refers to an input elementthat indicates a current part of a user interface with which a user isinteracting. In some implementations that include a cursor or otherlocation marker, the cursor acts as a “focus selector,” so that when aninput (e.g., a press input) is detected on a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touchpad 355 in FIG. 3 or touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 4)while the cursor is over a particular user interface element (e.g., abutton, window, slider or other user interface element), the particularuser interface element is adjusted in accordance with the detectedinput. In some implementations that include a touch-screen display(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112 in FIG. 1A) that enablesdirect interaction with user interface elements on the touch-screendisplay, a detected contact on the touch-screen acts as a “focusselector,” so that when an input (e.g., a press input by the contact) isdetected on the touch-screen display at a location of a particular userinterface element (e.g., a button, window, slider or other userinterface element), the particular user interface element is adjusted inaccordance with the detected input. In some implementations focus ismoved from one region of a user interface to another region of the userinterface without corresponding movement of a cursor or movement of acontact on a touch-screen display (e.g., by using a tab key or arrowkeys to move focus from one button to another button); in theseimplementations, the focus selector moves in accordance with movement offocus between different regions of the user interface. Without regard tothe specific form taken by the focus selector, the focus selector isgenerally the user interface element (or contact on a touch-screendisplay) that is controlled by the user so as to communicate the user'sintended interaction with the user interface (e.g., by indicating, tothe device, the element of the user interface with which the user isintending to interact). For example, the location of a focus selector(e.g., a cursor, a contact or a selection box) over a respective buttonwhile a press input is detected on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., atouchpad or touch screen) will indicate that the user is intending toactivate the respective button (as opposed to other user interfaceelements shown on a display of the device).

In some embodiments described herein, one or more operations areperformed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respectivepress input or in response to detecting the respective press inputperformed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), wherethe respective press input is detected based at least in part ondetecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality ofcontacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments,the respective operation is performed in response to detecting theincrease in intensity of the respective contact above the press-inputintensity threshold (e.g., a “down stroke” of the respective pressinput). In some embodiments, the press input includes an increase inintensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensitythreshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact belowthe press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation isperformed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensityof the respective contact below the press-input threshold (e.g., an “upstroke” of the respective press input).

In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoidaccidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines orselects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationshipto the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensitythreshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensitythreshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90% or somereasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, insome embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity ofthe respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and asubsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresisintensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensitythreshold, and the respective operation is performed in response todetecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contactbelow the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of therespective press input). Similarly, in some embodiments, the press inputis detected only when the device detects an increase in intensity of thecontact from an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity thresholdto an intensity at or above the press-input intensity threshold and,optionally, a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to anintensity at or below the hysteresis intensity, and the respectiveoperation is performed in response to detecting the press input (e.g.,the increase in intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity ofthe contact, depending on the circumstances).

For ease of explanation, the description of operations performed inresponse to a press input associated with a press-input intensitythreshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are,optionally, triggered in response to detecting either: an increase inintensity of a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, anincrease in intensity of a contact from an intensity below thehysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity above the press-inputintensity threshold, a decrease in intensity of the contact below thepress-input intensity threshold, and/or a decrease in intensity of thecontact below the hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to thepress-input intensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where anoperation is described as being performed in response to detecting adecrease in intensity of a contact below the press-input intensitythreshold, the operation is, optionally, performed in response todetecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below a hysteresisintensity threshold corresponding to, and lower than, the press-inputintensity threshold.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary architecture for thedevice 500 according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In theembodiment of FIG. 5, media content is optionally received by device 500via network interface 502, which is optionally a wireless or wiredconnection. The one or more processors 504 optionally execute any numberof programs stored in memory 506 or storage, which optionally includesinstructions to perform one or more of the methods and/or processesdescribed in this disclosure.

In some embodiments, display controller 508 causes the various userinterfaces of the disclosure to be displayed on display 500. Further,input to device 500 is optionally provided by remote 510 via remoteinterface 512, which is optionally a wireless or a wired connection. Itis understood that the embodiment of FIG. 5 is not meant to limit thefeatures of the device of the disclosure, and that other components tofacilitate other features described in the disclosure are optionallyincluded in the architecture of FIG. 5 as well. In some embodiments,device 500 optionally corresponds to one or more of multifunction device100 in FIGS. 1A and 2, and device 300 in FIG. 3; network interface 502optionally corresponds to one or more of RF circuitry 108, external port124, and peripherals interface 118 in FIGS. 1A and 2, and networkcommunications interface 360 in FIG. 3; processor 504 optionallycorresponds to one or more of processor(s) 120 in FIG. 1A and CPU(s) 310in FIG. 3; display controller 508 optionally corresponds to one or moreof display controller 156 in FIG. 1A and I/O interface 330 in FIG. 3;memory 506 optionally corresponds to one or more of memory 102 in FIG.1A and memory 370 in FIG. 3; remote interface 512 optionally correspondsto one or more of peripherals interface 118, and I/O subsystem 106(and/or its components) in FIG. 1A, and I/O interface 330 in FIG. 3;remote 510 optionally corresponds to and or includes one or more ofspeaker 111, touch-sensitive display system 112, microphone 113, opticalsensor(s) 164, contact intensity sensor(s) 165, tactile outputgenerator(s) 167, other input control devices 116, accelerometer(s) 168,proximity sensor 166, and I/O subsystem 106 in FIG. 1A, andkeyboard/mouse 350, touchpad 355, tactile output generator(s) 357, andcontact intensity sensor(s) 359 in FIG. 3, and touch-sensitive surface451 in FIG. 4; and display 514 optionally corresponds to one or more oftouch-sensitive display system 112 in FIGS. 1A and 2, display 340 inFIG. 3, and display 450 in FIG. 4.

User Interfaces And Associated Processes Display of FunctionalityInformation

In circumstances where a user interacts with an electronic device usingan input device, such as a touch-sensitive surface, it can be beneficialto the user's experience for the electronic device to provide the userwith information about functionalities (“functionality information”)that may be accessible from the input device. This can be particularlytrue in circumstances in which the input device itself contains novisible information about such functionalities—for example, atouch-sensitive surface having a blank, uniform surface. The embodimentsdescribed below provide ways to present such functionality information.Enhancing interactions with a device reduces the amount of time neededby a user to perform operations, and thus reduces the power usage of thedevice and increases battery life for battery-powered devices.

It is understood that people use devices. When a person uses a device,that person is optionally referred to as a user of the device. Thus, inthis disclosure, references to a “person” or “people” are optionallyinterchangeable with references to a “user” or “users”, and referencesto a “user” or “users” are optionally interchangeable with references toa “person” or “people”.

FIGS. 6A-6G illustrate exemplary ways in which functionality informationis presented in a user interface in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure. The embodiments in these figures are used to illustratethe processes described below, including the processes described withreference to FIGS. 7A-7G.

FIG. 6A illustrates exemplary display 450 and touch-sensitive surface451. Display 450 (e.g., a television or other display device) andtouch-sensitive surface 451 are optionally integrated with and/orotherwise in communication with a device such as device 500 as describedabove with reference to FIG. 5—for example, a set top box or other userinterface generating device that is in communication with a remotecontrol and a display device. Display 450 optionally displays one ormore user interfaces that include various content. Touch-sensitivesurface 451 optionally includes a plurality of predefined regions 602,604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618. In some embodiments, one ormore of predefined regions 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, and618 are selectable to perform a functionality associated with therespective predefined region (e.g., one or more of the regions areselectable to perform a functionality, including reverse skipping,forward skipping, rewinding, fast-forwarding, scrubbing and displayinginformation associated with a content item in a user interface displayedon display 450). Further exemplary functionalities are described below.In particular, in some embodiments, tapping in one of the predefinedregions performs the functionality associated with the predefinedregion; in some embodiments, clicking in the predefined region performsthe functionality associated with the predefined region; in someembodiments, one or more other inputs detected in the predefined regionperform the functionality associated with the predefined region. Forexample, in some embodiments, clicking in region 612 (e.g., detectingthe clicking of a button while detecting a contact, such as contact 601or a different contact, on region 612, or detecting an increase in theintensity of a contact, such as contact 601 or a different contact,detected in region 612 above a predetermined intensity threshold)performs a fast-forward operation for content displayed on display 450while detecting a contact on region 612. The surface of touch-sensitivesurface 451 is optionally visibly uniform, and optionally does notprovide a visual indication of the existence of predefined regions 602,604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618, and/or their associatedfunctionalities. Thus, it can be beneficial to display such informationon display 450.

In some embodiments, receiving an indication of contact 601 detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451, and determining whether the contact hasbeen detected for longer than a first time period (e.g., determiningwhether a resting finger has been detected on the touch-sensitivesurface of the remote for at least a threshold amount of time such as0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 seconds), initiates a process by which functionalityinformation is optionally determined and/or displayed on display 450. Insome embodiments, contact 601 need not be detected for longer than thefirst time period, but rather tapping on touch-sensitive surfaceinitiates the process by which functionality information is optionallydetermined and/or displayed on display 450. As shown in FIG. 6A, in someembodiments, contact 601 has been detected in predefined region 610,though it is understood that a contact detected anywhere ontouch-sensitive surface 451 optionally initiates the determinationand/or display of functionality information. In some embodiments,functionality information is determined and/or displayed not in responseto detection of an input for displaying the functionality information,but rather in response to a determination that one or more functions areaccessible from the touch-sensitive surface based on a state of a userinterface on display 450—for example, selection of a user interfaceelement (e.g., an application or a channel) in the user interfaceoptionally results in the display of functionality information relatingto the selected user interface element (e.g., functionality informationfor deleting the application or the channel from an application orchannel bar). The discussion that follows focuses on embodiments inwhich functionality information is displayed in response to detection ofan input for displaying the functionality information, though it isunderstood that the scope of the disclosure is not so limited, asdescribed above.

In accordance with a determination that contact 601 meets functionalitydisplay criteria (e.g., one or more criterion) that include a criterionthat is met when the contact has been detected for longer than the firsttime period, in some embodiments, functionality information isdetermined for display in a user interface for display on display 450,the functionality information including information about a firstfunctionality of the plurality of functionalities associated withpredefined regions 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618. Thisdetermination involves, for example, determining a respectivefunctionality for which functionality information is to be displayed,and then selecting pre-generated functionality information thatcorresponds to the respective functionality or generating thefunctionality information that is to be displayed on display 450 (e.g.,resting a finger anywhere on touch-sensitive surface 451 optionallybrings up information about one or more functionalities accessible fromthe touch-sensitive surface). In some embodiments, the functionalityinformation includes one or more icons that are displayed in a userinterface on display 450 that indicate functions of correspondingregions of the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, theinformation about the first functionality comprises a visual cue forperforming the first functionality (e.g., a visual display about thefunctionality to be performed, how to perform the functionality from theremote, etc.).

In accordance with a determination that contact 601 does not meet thefunctionality display criteria (e.g., because the contact has not beendetected for longer than the first time period or because the contacthas not been substantially stationary for longer than the first timeperiod), the electronic device optionally forgoes determination of thefunctionality information including the information about the firstfunctionality of the plurality of associated functionalities (e.g.,icons or information indicating the functionalities of the differentregions of touch-sensitive surface 451 are not displayed if the contactends before the first time period has been reached).

In some embodiments, the functionality display criteria include acriterion that is met when the contact has moved less than a firstmovement threshold during the first time period (e.g., in order todisplay the functionality information, in some embodiments, the contactmust be a substantially stationary contact).

FIG. 6B illustrates exemplary functionality information displayed in auser interface on display 450 in accordance with a determination thatcontact 601 meets the functionality display criteria. Functionalityinformation 620 optionally includes information about a functionalitythat is accessible from touch sensitive surface 451 (e.g., fastforward), and/or information about how to access the functionality(e.g., clicking in predefined region 612). In some embodiments, thefunctionality information comprises an overlay displayed over a movingimage or a still image in the user interface displayed by display 450.

FIG. 6C illustrates exemplary selection of a functionality accessiblefrom touch-sensitive surface 451. As described above, selection of afunctionality is optionally accomplished when an indication of an input(“second input”) detected on the predefined region associated with thefunctionality is received. As shown in FIG. 6C, in some embodiments,selection of the fast forward functionality is accomplished by detectinga click in predefined region 612, as shown. In response to receiving theindication of the second input, the electronic device optionallyperforms the functionality associated with the predefined region onwhich the second input was detected.

In some embodiments, detecting the second input (e.g., the click)comprises detecting the second input concurrently with the contact(e.g., contact 601) on touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., a click inpredefined region 612 is optionally detected in response to contact 601moving to predefined region 612 and providing a click input, withoutcontact lifting off touch-sensitive surface). In some embodiments,detecting the second input comprises detecting a second contact (e.g.,one or more of a tap, a click and a resting touch) on predefined region612 of touch-sensitive surface 451. In some embodiments, detecting thesecond input comprises detecting an increase in an intensity of thecontact above a first predetermined intensity threshold (e.g., amechanical click or force detection).

In some embodiments, detection of contacts having different intensitiesresults in the device performing different functionalities. In someembodiments, the electronic device optionally receives an indication ofa third input detected on the first predefined region (e.g., predefinedregion 612) of touch-sensitive surface 451 that is associated with thefirst functionality (e.g., fast forward), wherein detecting the thirdinput comprises detecting a second increase in the intensity of thecontact (e.g., contact 601) above a second predetermined intensitythreshold (e.g., multi-level click), the second predetermined intensitythreshold being greater than the first predetermined intensitythreshold. In response to receiving the indication of the third input,the electronic device optionally forgoes performance of the firstfunctionality (e.g., fast forward) associated with the first predefinedregion (e.g., predefined region 612) on the touch-sensitive surface, andperforms a second functionality associated with the first predefinedregion (e.g., predefined region 612) of the touch-sensitive surface, thesecond functionality being different than the first functionality (e.g.,a double-level click optionally performs a different functionality thana single-level click).

In some embodiments, prior to performing the second functionality, theelectronic device replaces the functionality information in the userinterface (e.g., functionality information 620) with secondfunctionality information (e.g., updated functionality information aboutthe second functionality), the second functionality informationincluding second information about the second functionality associatedwith the first predefined region of the touch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, detecting a click-and-hold-type input performs adifferent functionality than a click-type input. In some embodiments,detecting the second input further comprises detecting the contact(e.g., contact 601) on the touch-sensitive surface of the device forlonger than a second time period after detecting the increase in theintensity of the contact above the first predetermined intensitythreshold (e.g., clicking and holding for at least a threshold amount oftime such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 seconds). In response to receiving theindication of the second input, the electronic device optionally forgoesperformance of the first functionality associated with the firstpredefined region on the touch-sensitive surface, and performs a secondfunctionality associated with the first predefined region of thetouch-sensitive surface, the second functionality being different thanthe first functionality (e.g., click-and-hold initiates differentfunctionality than only click). Similar to above, in some embodiments,prior to performing the second functionality, the electronic devicereplaces the functionality information in the user interface with secondfunctionality information, the second functionality informationincluding second information about the second functionality associatedwith the first predefined region of the touch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, the functionalities accessible from predefinedregions 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618 oftouch-sensitive surface 451 are based on a current context of the userinterface (e.g., what kind of content is displayed in the userinterface) displayed on display 450. In some embodiments, a firstpredefined region (e.g., predefined region 612) of the plurality ofpredefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface of the device isassociated with a first set of functionalities, the first set offunctionalities including the first functionality (e.g., themiddle-right region of touch-sensitive surface is optionally associatedwith fast-forwarding and skipping an advertisement). Determining thefunctionality information for display in response to receiving theindication of the first input optionally comprises determining a currentcontext of the user interface (e.g., what kind of content is displayedin the user interface), and selecting the first functionality from thefirst set of functionalities based on the current context of the userinterface.

In some embodiments, selecting the first functionality from the firstset of functionalities based on the current context of the userinterface includes, in accordance with a determination that the currentcontext is a first context (e.g., an advertisement displayed in the userinterface, a collection of music displayed in the user interface, anapplication displayed in the user interface, a collection of photosdisplayed in the user interface), the first functionality corresponds toa first operation (e.g., skipping the advertisement, navigating to apage of the collection of music, switching to another application,navigating to a page of the collection of photos), and in accordancewith a determination that the current context is a second context,different from the first context (e.g., a movie displayed in the userinterface, a television channel displayed in the user interface, acontent information page displayed in the user interface), the firstfunctionality corresponds to a second operation, different from thefirst operation (e.g., fast-forwarding the movie, changing the channel,viewing more content information).

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the functionalitiesdescribed herein are optionally accessed without first displaying thefunctionality information that is described—in some embodiments, thedisplaying of the functionality information simply provides informationas to what functionalities are optionally accessible fromtouch-sensitive surface 451.

FIG. 6D illustrates exemplary functionality information displayed in auser interface on display 450. In some embodiments, functionalityinformation 622 comprises an icon or other graphic that providesinformation as to the relevant functionality—as shown in FIG. 6D, insome embodiments, the icon indicates the functionality is a fast forwardfunctionality. In some embodiments, the icon (e.g., functionalityinformation 622) is displayed at a first location in the user interface(e.g., middle-right of the user interface), the first locationcorresponding to a first predefined region (e.g., predefined region 612)on the touch-sensitive surface associated with the first functionality(e.g., a first region on the touch-sensitive surface that, whenselected, will cause the first functionality to be performed. Forexample, the middle-right region of touch-sensitive surface, e.g.,predefined region 612). Thus, in some embodiments, the location of thefunctionality icon in the user interface maps to the location of thefunctionality access on touch-sensitive surface 451 of the remote.Selection of the functionality is optionally accomplished as describedabove. In some embodiments, functionality information 622 optionallyprovides some visual indication (e.g., glowing, flashing, etc.) thatcontact 603 is detected in a region of touch-sensitive surface 451 thatcorresponds to the functionality information (e.g., predefined region612). This visual indication optionally provides feedback to a user thatfurther selection of predefined region 612 (e.g., by clicking inpredefined region 612) will perform the functionality associated withpredefined region 612 and functionality information 622.

FIG. 6E illustrates exemplary functionality information for twofunctionalities displayed in a user interface on display 450. In someembodiments, the functionality information displayed on display 450includes information about two or more functionalities accessible fromtouch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., functionality information 626, 624,and 628, indicating the accessibility of the rewind functionality frompredefined region 608, the fast forward functionality from predefinedregion 612, and the information functionality from predefined region604, respectively). Further, as before, each piece of functionalityinformation is optionally displayed at a location in the user interfacethat corresponds to the associated predefined region on touch-sensitivesurface 451. The relative positioning of functionality information 626with respect to functionality information 624 in the user interfaceoptionally corresponds to the relative positioning of predefined region608 with respect to predefined region 612. Selection of the respectivefunctionalities is optionally accomplished as described above and asillustrated in FIG. 6E.

In some embodiments, as above, the functionalities accessible from thepredefined regions are based on context, as illustrated in FIGS. 6F-6G.In some embodiments, a second predefined region (e.g., region 608) ofthe plurality of predefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface ofthe device is associated with a second set of functionalities, thesecond set of functionalities including a second functionality (e.g.,the left-middle region of the touch-sensitive surface is associated witha first functionality, and the right-middle region of thetouch-sensitive surface is associated with a second functionality).Determining the functionality information for display in response toreceiving the indication of the first input (e.g., a resting finger)further comprises selecting the second functionality from the second setof functionalities based on the current context of the user interface(e.g., what kind of content is displayed in the user interface). Inaccordance with the determination that the current context is the firstcontext (e.g., an advertisement displayed in the user interface,illustrated in FIG. 6F), the first functionality (e.g., functionality630 in FIG. 6F) corresponds to the first operation (e.g., skipping theadvertisement), and the second functionality (e.g., functionality 632 inFIG. 6F) corresponds to a third operation (e.g., restarting theadvertisement) different from the first operation and the secondoperation (e.g., the left-middle region of the touch-sensitive surfacerestarts the advertisement, and the right-middle region of thetouch-sensitive surface skips the advertisement). In accordance with thedetermination that the current context is the second context (e.g., amovie displayed in the user interface, illustrated in FIG. 6G), thefirst functionality (e.g., functionality 624 in FIG. 6G) corresponds tothe second operation (e.g., fast-forwarding the movie), and the secondfunctionality (e.g., functionality 626 in FIG. 6G) corresponds to afourth operation (e.g., rewinding the movie) different from the firstoperation, the second operation, and the third operation (e.g., theleft-middle region of the touch-sensitive surface rewinds the movie, andthe right-middle region of the touch-sensitive surface fast-forwards themovie).

As described above, any number of functionalities are optionallyaccessible from the touch-sensitive surface of the disclosure. In someembodiments, the plurality of associated functionalities accessible formthe touch-sensitive surface includes navigation functionalities fornavigating in the user interface (e.g., moving a selection-indicator up,down, left, and right by tapping on the top, bottom, left, and rightsides, respectively, of the touch-sensitive surface of the device;selecting an object in the user interface by clicking on thetouch-sensitive surface of the device; presenting a contextualnavigation menu by clicking and holding the touch-sensitive surface ofthe device).

In some embodiments, the plurality of associated functionalitiesaccessible form the touch-sensitive surface includes navigationfunctionalities for navigating content in the user interface (e.g.,moving left/right or previous/next through images by tapping and/orclicking on the left and right sides, respectively, of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device; moving to the previous/next imageby swiping to the right and left, respectively, on the touch-sensitivesurface of the device; skipping backward/forward through content (e.g.,video) by clicking in the upper left and upper right regions,respectively, of the touch-sensitive surface of the device; jumpingbackward/forward through content (e.g., video) by clicking and holdingin the upper left and upper right regions, respectively, of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device; rewinding/fast forwarding throughcontent (e.g., video) by clicking on the left and right sides,respectively, of the touch-sensitive surface of the device;rewinding/fast forwarding through content (e.g., music) by clicking andholding on the left and right sides, respectively, of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device; changing to a previous/next trackin content (e.g., music) by clicking on the left and right sides,respectively, of the touch-sensitive surface of the device; changing toa previous/next channel by swiping in, towards the center, from the leftand right edges, respectively, of the touch-sensitive surface of thedevice; skipping to the last channel by swiping in, towards the center,from the left edge of the touch-sensitive surface of the device;presenting one or more overlay applications by swiping in, towards thecenter, from the right or top edges of the touch-sensitive surface ofthe device; presenting a content guide (e.g., electronic program guide)by clicking in an upper left region of the touch-sensitive surface ofthe device; presenting content in a full screen mode by clicking in anupper right region of the touch-sensitive surface of the device;presenting a filmstrip (e.g., scrubber bar) of images from content(e.g., video) by clicking on the touch-sensitive surface of the device;presenting, in a filmstrip (e.g., scrubber bar), images corresponding tochapters/keyframes in content (e.g., video) by swiping up and down,respectively, on the touch-sensitive surface of the device; playingcontent from a current position in a filmstrip (e.g., scrubber bar) byclicking on the touch-sensitive surface of the device; presenting aphotostrip of images from a collection of images by clicking on thetouch-sensitive surface of the device; presenting history of content(e.g., music) played and/or upcoming content (e.g., music) to be playedby clicking on the touch-sensitive surface of the device).

In some embodiments, the plurality of associated functionalitiesaccessible form the touch-sensitive surface includes navigationfunctionalities for navigating one or more content bars (e.g., app orchannel bar) in the user interface (e.g., moving to the next/previouscontent bar by tapping on the top and bottom sides, respectively, of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device; moving to the left/right in acurrent content bar by tapping on the left and right sides,respectively, of the touch-sensitive surface of the device; moving tothe next/previous content bar by swiping down and up, respectively, onthe touch-sensitive surface of the device; selecting an object (e.g., anapp or channel) in the current content bar by clicking on thetouch-sensitive surface of the device).

In some embodiments, the plurality of associated functionalitiesaccessible form the touch-sensitive surface includes informationfunctionalities for presenting information about content in the userinterface (e.g., presenting information about content by clicking on thetop side of the touch-sensitive surface of the device; presentinginformation about content by swiping in, towards the center, from theleft edge of the touch-sensitive surface of the device).

The following table lists some functionalities, various combinations ofone or more of which are optionally accessible from the touch-sensitivesurface (TSS) of the disclosure:

Location on TSS Top/Bottom/ Top-Left/ Input Anywhere Left/RightTop-Right Tap Display Navigate UI in functionality accordance withinformation location of tap Click Select Top: Alternative contentDisplay information navigation in about content accordance withRight/Left: location of click Navigate content (e.g., PP, Rewind, Skip,etc.) in accordance with location of click Click-and- DisplayRight/Left: Alternative content Hold contextual menu Alternative contentnavigation in navigation in accordance with accordancewith location ofclick- location of click- and-hold and-hold Swipe Browse throughLeft-to-center: images/content Skip to previous/last bar in accordancechannel, or display with direction of information about swipe contentRight-to-center: Skip to next channel, or display overlay applicationsTop-to-center: Display overlay applications

FIGS. 7A-7G are flow diagrams illustrating a method 700 of displayingfunctionality information in accordance with some embodiments. Themethod 700 is optionally performed at an electronic device such asdevice 500 as described above with reference to FIG. 5, including a settop box or other user interface generating device that is incommunication with a remote control and a display device. Someoperations in method 700 are, optionally, combined and/or the order ofsome operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 700 provides ways in which a deviceoptionally provides functionality information to a user. The methodreduces the cognitive burden on a user when interacting with a userinterface of the device of the disclosure, thereby creating a moreefficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronicdevices, increasing the efficiency of the user's interaction with theuser interface conserves power and increases the time between batterycharges.

In some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., a set top box or otheruser interface generating device that is in communication with a remotecontrol and a display device, such as device 500 in FIG. 5) with one ormore processors and memory generates (702) a user interface for displayon a display device (e.g., a television or other display device, such asdisplay 450 in FIG. 6A).

In some embodiments, while the user interface is displayed on thedisplay device, the device receives (703) an indication of a first inputthat includes a contact (e.g., a finger contact or stylus contact)detected on a touch-sensitive surface of a device (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface of a remote control or a portable multifunctiondevice with a touchscreen display, such as contact 601 detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 6A). In some embodiments, thetouch-sensitive surface includes a plurality of predefined regions(e.g., regions 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618 ontouch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 6A) and each predefined region ofthe plurality of predefined regions is selectable to perform anassociated functionality (704) (e.g., each region is selectable toperform a functionality, including reverse skipping, forward skipping,rewinding, fast-forwarding, scrubbing and displaying informationassociated with a content item). In some embodiments, thetouch-sensitive surface includes fewer than nine predefined regions; forexample, in some embodiments, the touch-sensitive surface includes fourpredefined regions (top-right, bottom-right, bottom-left, and top-left)that are optionally larger than the nine predefined regions, and in someembodiments, the touch-sensitive surface includes five predefinedregions (top-right, bottom-right, bottom-left, top-left and center) thatare optionally larger than the nine predefined regions, but optionallysmaller than the four predefined regions. In some embodiments, thenumber of predefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface is based onthe number of functionalities that need to be accessible from thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., when more functionalities need to beaccessible from the touch-sensitive surface, the touch-sensitive surfaceoptionally includes more predefined regions). In some embodiments, thedevice comprises an input device, and the input device and the displaydevice are separate devices (705) (e.g., display 450 and touch-sensitivesurface 451 in FIG. 6A are included in separate devices).

In some embodiments, the plurality of associated functionalitiesincludes navigation functionalities for navigating in the user interface(706). In some embodiments, the plurality of associated functionalitiesincludes navigation functionalities for navigating content in the userinterface (707). In some embodiments, the plurality of associatedfunctionalities includes navigation functionalities for navigating oneor more content bars in the user interface (708). In some embodiments,the plurality of associated functionalities includes informationfunctionalities for presenting information about content in the userinterface (709).

In some embodiments, in response to receiving the indication of thefirst input (710) (e.g., contact 601 in FIG. 6A), the device determines(712) whether the contact has been detected for longer than a first timeperiod (e.g., determines whether a resting finger has been detected onthe touch-sensitive surface of the remote for at least a thresholdamount of time such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 seconds—for example, whethercontact 601 in FIG. 6A has been detected for longer than the thresholdamount of time). In some embodiments, in accordance with a determinationthat the contact meets functionality display criteria (e.g., one or morecriterion) that include a criterion that is met when the contact hasbeen detected for longer than the first time period, the devicedetermines (714) functionality information (e.g., determines arespective functionality for which functionality information is to bedisplayed, and then selects pre-generated functionality information thatcorresponds to the respective functionality, or generates thefunctionality information that is to be displayed on the display) fordisplay in the user interface (e.g., functionality information 620 inFIG. 6A, functionality information 622 in FIG. 6D, and functionalityinformation 624 and 626 in FIG. 6E). In some embodiments, thefunctionality information includes information about a firstfunctionality of the plurality of associated functionalities (716)(e.g., resting a finger anywhere on the touch-sensitive surface bringsup information about one or more functionalities accessible from thetouch-sensitive surface). For example, the functionality informationoptionally includes one or more icons (e.g., icons 624 and 626 in FIG.6E) that are displayed in the user interface that indicate functionsaccessible from corresponding regions of the touch-sensitive surface. Insome embodiments, the functionality information comprises an overlaydisplayed over a moving image or a still image in the user interface(718) (e.g., functionality information 622 in FIG. 6D is optionallyoverlaid on a moving or still image displayed on display 450). In someembodiments, the functionality display criteria include a criterion thatis met when the contact has moved less than a first movement thresholdduring the first time period (720) (e.g., in order to display thefunctionality information, the contact (e.g., contact 601 in FIG. 6A)optionally must be a substantially stationary contact). In someembodiments, the information about the first functionality comprises avisual cue for performing the first functionality (722) (e.g., a visualdisplay about the functionality to be performed, how to perform thefunctionality from the remote, etc., such as functionality information620 in FIG. 6C and functionality information 624 and 626 in FIG. 6E).

In some embodiments, the information about the first functionality isdisplayed at a first location in the user interface, the first locationcorresponding to a first predefined region on the touch-sensitivesurface associated with the first functionality (724) (e.g., a firstpredefined region on the touch-sensitive surface that, when activated,will cause the first functionality to be performed). Thus, in someembodiments, the location of the functionality icon on the userinterface maps to the location of functionality access on thetouch-sensitive surface of the remote. For example, the location offunctionality information 622 on display 450 optionally corresponds tothe location of region 612 on touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 6D. Insome embodiments, the functionality information further includes secondinformation about a second functionality of the plurality of associatedfunctionalities (726). In some embodiments, the second information isdisplayed at a second location in the user interface, the secondlocation corresponding to a second predefined region on thetouch-sensitive surface associated with the second functionality (728)(e.g., a second region on the touch-sensitive surface that, whenactivated, will cause the second functionality to be performed). In someembodiments, a relative positioning of the first location in the userinterface with respect to the second location in the user interfacecorresponds to a relative positioning of the first predefined region onthe touch-sensitive surface with respect to the second predefined regionon the touch-sensitive surface (730), as illustrated in FIG. 6E withfunctionality information 624 and 626 and corresponding regions 612 and608, respectively.

In some embodiments, a first predefined region of the plurality ofpredefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface of the device isassociated with a first set of functionalities, the first set offunctionalities including the first functionality (732) (e.g., the rightregion of the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., region 612 in FIG. 6A) isoptionally associated with fast-forwarding and skipping anadvertisement). In some embodiments, a second predefined region of theplurality of predefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface of thedevice is associated with a second set of functionalities, the secondset of functionalities including a second functionality (734) (e.g., theleft region of the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., region 608 in FIG. 6A)is associated with a first set of functionalities, and the right regionof the touch-sensitive surface is associated with a second set offunctionalities). In some embodiments, determining the functionalityinformation for display in response to receiving the indication of thefirst input comprises (736) determining (738) a current context of theuser interface (e.g., determining what kind of content is displayed inthe user interface). In some embodiments, determining the functionalityinformation for display in response to receiving the indication of thefirst input comprises (736) selecting (740) the first functionality fromthe first set of functionalities based on the current context of theuser interface. In some embodiments, in accordance with a determinationthat the current context is a first context (e.g., an advertisementdisplayed in the user interface, a collection of music displayed in theuser interface, an application displayed in the user interface, acollection of photos displayed in the user interface, etc.), the firstfunctionality corresponds to a first operation (742) (e.g., skipping theadvertisement, navigating to a page of the collection of music,switching to another application, navigating to a page of the collectionof photos, etc.). In some embodiments, in accordance with adetermination that the current context is a second context, differentfrom the first context (e.g., a movie displayed in the user interface, atelevision channel displayed in the user interface, a contentinformation page displayed in the user interface, etc.), the firstfunctionality corresponds to a second operation, different from thefirst operation (744) (e.g., fast-forwarding the movie, changing thechannel, viewing more content information, etc.). For example, selectionof region 612 in FIG. 6A optionally performs a first operation when thecurrent context is a first context, and performs a second operation whenthe current context is a second context.

In some embodiments, determining the functionality information fordisplay in response to receiving the indication of the first inputcomprises (736) selecting (746) the second functionality from the secondset of functionalities based on the current context of the userinterface. In some embodiments, in accordance with the determinationthat the current context is the first context (e.g., an advertisementdisplayed in the user interface), the first functionality corresponds tothe first operation (e.g., skipping the advertisement), and the secondfunctionality corresponds to a third operation (e.g., restarting theadvertisement) different from the first operation and the secondoperation (748) (e.g., the left region of the touch-sensitive surfacerestarts the advertisement and the right region of the touch-sensitivesurface skips the advertisement). In some embodiments, in accordancewith the determination that the current context is the second context(e.g., a movie displayed in the user interface), the first functionalitycorresponds to the second operation (e.g., fast-forwarding the movie),and the second functionality corresponds to a fourth operation (e.g.,rewinding the movie) different from the first operation, the secondoperation, and the third operation (750) (e.g., the left region of thetouch-sensitive surface rewinds the movie and the right region of thetouch-sensitive surface fast-forwards the movie). Thus, the operationsperformed by the regions on the touch-sensitive surface are optionallybased on the current context of the user interface.

In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the contactdoes not meet the functionality display criteria (e.g., because thecontact has not been detected for longer than the first time period),the device forgoes (752) determination of the functionality informationincluding the information about the first functionality of the pluralityof associated functionalities (e.g., icons, such as icons 624 and 626 inFIG. 6E, indicating the functionalities of the different regions of thetouch-sensitive surface are optionally not displayed if the contact endsbefore the first time period has been reached).

In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that thefunctionality display criteria has not been met because the contact hasmoved more than the first movement threshold during the first timeperiod, the device forgoes (754) determination of the functionalityinformation including the information about the first functionality ofthe plurality of associated functionalities.

In some embodiments, the device receives (756) an indication of a secondinput detected on a first predefined region of the touch-sensitivesurface that is associated with the first functionality, as illustratedby contacts 601 and 603 in FIGS. 6C and 6D. In some embodiments,detecting the second input comprises detecting the second inputconcurrently with the contact on the touch-sensitive surface of thedevice (758) (e.g., no liftoff of the contact need be detected beforedetection of a click in the respective predefined region of thetouch-sensitive surface). In some embodiments, detecting the secondinput comprises detecting a second contact (e.g., one or more of a tap,a click and a resting touch) on the first predefined region of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device (760). In some embodiments,detecting the second input comprises detecting an increase in anintensity of the contact above a first predetermined intensity threshold(762) (e.g., mechanical click or force detection).

In some embodiments, in response to receiving the indication of thesecond input, the device performs (764) the first functionalityassociated with the first predefined region. For example, in response toreceiving the indication of contact 601 in region 612 in FIG. 6C, thedevice optionally fast forwards content in the user interface.

In some embodiments, the device receives (766) an indication of a thirdinput detected on the first predefined region of the touch-sensitivesurface that is associated with the first functionality. In someembodiments, detecting the third input comprises detecting a secondincrease in the intensity of the contact above a second predeterminedintensity threshold (e.g., multi-level click), the second predeterminedintensity threshold being greater than the first predetermined intensitythreshold (768). In some embodiments, in response to receiving theindication of the third input, the device forgoes (770) performance ofthe first functionality associated with the first predefined region onthe touch-sensitive surface, and performs a second functionalityassociated with the first predefined region of the touch-sensitivesurface, the second functionality being different than the firstfunctionality (e.g., a double-level click performs a differentfunctionality than single-level click). For example, while asingle-level click in region 612 in FIG. 6C optionally performs a fastforward operation, a double-level click in region 612 optionallyperforms a different operation (e.g., 30 s forward skip).

In some embodiments, prior to performing the second functionality, thedevice replaces (772) the functionality information in the userinterface with second functionality information, the secondfunctionality information including second information about the secondfunctionality associated with the first predefined region of thetouch-sensitive surface. For example, the device optionally replacesfunctionality information 620 in FIG. 6C with functionality informationabout the different functionality performed in response to thedouble-level click.

In some embodiments, detecting the second input further comprisesdetecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface of the device forlonger than a second time period after detecting the increase in theintensity of the contact above the first predetermined intensitythreshold (774) (e.g., detecting a click and hold for at least athreshold amount of time such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 seconds). In someembodiments, in response to receiving the indication of the secondinput, the device forgoes (776) performance of the first functionalityassociated with the first predefined region on the touch-sensitivesurface, and performs a second functionality associated with the firstpredefined region of the touch-sensitive surface, the secondfunctionality being different than the first functionality (e.g., aclick and hold initiates a different functionality than only a click).For example, while a single-level click in region 612 in FIG. 6Coptionally performs a fast forward operation, a click and hold in region612 optionally performs a different operation (e.g., skipping to thenext chapter in content).

In some embodiments, prior to performing the second functionality, thedevice replaces (778) the functionality information in the userinterface with second functionality information, the secondfunctionality information including second information about the secondfunctionality associated with the first predefined region of thetouch-sensitive surface. For example, the device optionally replacesfunctionality information 620 in FIG. 6C with functionality informationabout the different functionality performed in response to the click andhold.

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 7A-7G have been described is merely exemplary and isnot intended to indicate that the described order is the only order inwhich the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,methods 900, 1100, 1300 and 1500) are also applicable in an analogousmanner to method 700 described above with respect to FIGS. 7A-7G. Forexample, the user interfaces, display devices, touch-sensitive surfacesand contacts described above with reference to method 700 optionallyhave one or more of the characteristics of the user interfaces, displaydevices, touch-sensitive surfaces and contacts described herein withreference to other methods described herein (e.g., methods 900, 1100,1300 and 1500). For brevity, these details are not repeated here.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modulesin an information processing apparatus such as general purposeprocessors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A, 3 and 5)or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 7A-7G are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. Forexample, generation operation 702, receiving operation 703, anddetermination operations 712 and 714 are, optionally, implemented byevent sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Eventmonitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the eventinformation to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 ofapplication 136-1 compares the event information to respective eventdefinitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a firstlocation on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefinedevent or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface.When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, eventrecognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Content Navigation Bar

Providing a content navigation bar by which a user can easily andefficiently navigate content displayed in a user interface provided by adevice can enhance the user's interaction with the content and thedevice. The embodiments described below provide ways that a deviceoptionally presents such a content navigation bar in a user interface.Enhancing interactions with a device reduces the amount of time neededby a user to perform operations, and thus reduces the power usage of thedevice and increases battery life for battery-powered devices.

FIGS. 8A-8G illustrate exemplary ways in which a content navigation baris presented in a user interface in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure. The embodiments in these figures are used to illustratethe processes described below, including the processes described withreference to FIGS. 9A-9G.

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary sequence of content items. The contentitems in sequence 802 are optionally any content items, such as movies,television shows, and/or applications. In some embodiments, sequence 802includes entries representing content items 1 through N (e.g., entries804, 806, 808, and 810). Sequence 802 optionally provides informationabout the ordering of the content items represented in it. For example,the fact that the entry for content item 2 806 comes before the entryfor content item 3 808 optionally indicates that content item 2 isbefore content item 3 in the relevant sequence or ordering. Additionallyor alternatively to the actual ordering of entries 804, 806, 808, and810 in sequence 802, the entries themselves optionally containinformation about the relative ordering of their corresponding contentitems in the relevant sequence or ordering.

The sequence or ordering of content items represented by sequence 802optionally represents content item ordering in many contexts. Forexample, if the content items of interest are episodes of a televisionseries, sequence 802 optionally provides the correct ordering of theepisodes based on the content of the episodes (e.g., the first episode,the second episode, etc.). If the content items of interest aretelevision broadcasts on a specific channel, for example, sequence 802optionally provides the correct ordering of the television broadcastsbased on the time that the broadcasts were aired (e.g., the 7:00 pmbroadcast, followed by the 7:30 broadcast, followed by the 8:00 pmbroadcast, etc.). Sequence 802 optionally provides an ordering ofcontent items in any context in which ordering of content items isoptionally of interest.

To facilitate such content type-based sequence determinations, anelectronic device (e.g., device 500 in FIG. 5) optionally determines acontent type (e.g., movie, television show, etc.) of a content item ofinterest (the “respective content item”). In some embodiments, inaccordance with a determination that the content type of the respectivecontent item is a first content type, the electronic device identifies afirst sequence of content items that includes the respective contentitem, wherein a first content item immediately precedes the respectivecontent item in the sequence of content items, and a second content itemimmediately follows the respective content item in the sequence ofcontent items (e.g., if the content type of the respective content itemis a television series, the respective content item is optionally anepisode of the television series, the first content item is optionallyan immediately previous episode in the television series, and the secondcontent item is optionally the immediately next episode in thetelevision series). In accordance with a determination that the contenttype of the respective content item is a second content type, theelectronic device optionally identifies a second sequence of contentitems that includes the respective content item, the second sequence ofcontent items being different than the first sequence of content items,wherein a third content item is adjacent to the respective content itemin the second sequence of content items, the third content item beingdifferent than the first content item and the second content item (e.g.,if the content type of the respective content item is a televisionbroadcast, the respective content item is optionally a televisionprogram broadcast during a time slot, the first content item isoptionally a television program broadcast during an immediately previoustime slot, and the second content item is optionally a televisionprogram broadcast during an immediately next time slot).

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary user interface including a navigationbar. Display 450 optionally displays a user interface that includesregion 828 and navigation bar 830. Region 828 optionally displays arepresentation of a current position in a respective content item (e.g.,a large version of content being played in the user interface). Therespective content item is optionally a currently selected content item(e.g., a content item selected for presentation to the user on display450) from a sequence of content items that includes a plurality ofcontent items (e.g., movies, television shows, applications), such assequence 802.

In some embodiments, navigation bar 830 includes a plurality of images814, 816, 818, 820, and 822 that correspond to different positions inthe respective content item, the representation of the current positionin which is displayed in region 828. For example, navigation bar 830optionally includes images from different points in time (e.g., every 5seconds or minutes) in the first episode of a television series (therespective content item).

In some embodiments, the representation of the respective content itemin region 828 of the user interface is larger than navigation bar 830 inthe user interface (e.g., the video of the respective content item islarger than the images in the navigation bar). In some embodiments, therepresentation of the respective content item in region 828 comprisesvideo from the respective content item, the video including theplurality of images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, in navigation bar 830.In some embodiments, the plurality of images 814, 816, 818, 820, and822, in navigation bar 830 comprise a plurality of still images from therespective content item.

In some embodiments, navigation bar 830 also includes a representationof a first adjacent content item 824 in the plurality of content itemsthat is adjacent to the respective content item in the sequence (e.g.,sequence 802) of content items. For example, navigation bar 830optionally includes a representation of the second episode (e.g., nextepisode) in a television series (the first adjacent content item 824)when the respective content item is an episode in the television series.It is understood that navigation bar 830 could additionally oralternatively include a representation of a previous episode in thetelevision series, for example.

As shown in FIG. 8B, in some embodiments, navigation bar 830 includesrepresentations of two adjacent content items 812 and 824 (e.g., aprevious and a next content item). In some embodiments, navigation bar830 optionally includes a representation of a second adjacent contentitem 812 (e.g., a previous content item) in the plurality of contentitems that is adjacent to the respective content item in the sequence ofcontent items. As described above, the first adjacent content itemoptionally precedes the respective content item in the sequence ofcontent items (e.g., the first adjacent content item is an episodeprevious to the current episode in a television series, or a televisionprogram broadcast during a time slot previous to the current televisionprogram), and the second adjacent content item optionally follows therespective content item in the sequence of content items (e.g., thesecond adjacent content item is an episode following the current episodein a television series, or a television program broadcast during a timeslot following the current television program).

As discussed above with respect to FIG. 8A, in some embodiments, thefirst and second adjacent content items are based on a determinedcontent type of the respective content item. For example, as shown inFIGS. 8B-8C, in some embodiments, when the content type of therespective content item is a television broadcast (e.g., 8:00 PMtelevision broadcast in FIG. 8B), the previous adjacent content item isoptionally a television broadcast during a previous time slot (e.g.,7:30 PM television broadcast in FIG. 8B), and the next adjacent contentitem is optionally a television broadcast during a next time slot (e.g.,8:30 PM television broadcast in FIG. 8B). In some embodiments, when thecontent type of the respective content item is an episode of atelevision series (e.g., episode 2 of a television series in FIG. 8C),the previous adjacent content item is optionally a previous episode ofthe television series (e.g., episode 1 of the television series in FIG.8C), and the next adjacent content item is optionally a next episode ofthe television series (e.g., episode 3 of the television series in FIG.8C).

In some embodiments, the representations of the first adjacent contentitem 824 and/or the second adjacent content item 812 in navigation bar830 comprise images from positions in the first and/or second adjacentcontent item (e.g., one or more screenshots from points in time in thenext and/or previous episodes in the television series).

In some embodiments, a user optionally provides input to change the timeinterval between positions in the respective content item to whichimages 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, correspond. In other words, the useroptionally provides input to change the time interval between images814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, displayed in navigation bar 830, so thatinstead of the images corresponding to points in time separated by 5minutes in the respective content item, for example, the imagesoptionally correspond to points in time separated by 10 minutes in therespective content item, for example.

Thus, in some embodiments, a first image of the plurality of images(e.g., image 814) in navigation bar 830 corresponds to a first positionin the respective content item, and a second image of the plurality ofimages (e.g., image 816) in the navigation bar corresponds to a secondposition in the respective content item, the first position in therespective content item and the second position in the respectivecontent item being separated by a first interval (e.g., an amount oftime, for example, 5 or 10 minutes). In some embodiments, while the userinterface is displayed on display 450, the electronic device receives anindication of a first input that includes a contact (e.g., a fingercontact or stylus contact) detected on a touch-sensitive surface of adevice (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface of a remote control or aportable multifunction device with a touchscreen display), whereindetecting the contact comprises detecting a movement of the contact(e.g., a vertical swipe on the touch-sensitive surface). In accordancewith the movement of the contact, the electronic device optionallyselects a third position and a fourth position in the respective contentitem, and their corresponding third image and fourth image,respectively, the third position and fourth position being separated bya second interval that is different than the first interval (e.g.,larger or smaller than the first interval), and replaces the first image(e.g., image 814) in navigation bar 830 with a third image correspondingto the third position in the respective content item, and the secondimage (e.g., image 816) in the navigation bar with a fourth imagecorresponding to the fourth position in the respective content item. Inthis way, the electronic device optionally changes the time intervalbetween the images in navigation bar 830.

In some embodiments, changing the time interval between positions in therespective content item to which images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822,correspond is based on the content type of the respective content item,similar to as described with reference to FIGS. 8D-8E below (e.g., thetype of content that is being displayed in region 828 of the userinterface). In some embodiments, the electronic device optionallydetermines a content type (e.g., movie, television show, etc.) of therespective content item. In accordance with a determination that thecontent type of the respective content item is a first content type(e.g., a sporting event), the electronic device optionally selects thesecond interval separating the third position and fourth position in therespective content item to be a time-based interval (e.g., separated by5, 10, or 20 minutes). In accordance with a determination that thecontent type of the respective content item is a second content type(e.g., a movie), the electronic device optionally selects the secondinterval separating the third position and fourth position in therespective content item to be a content-based interval (e.g., separatedby an amount of time based on the content of the respective contentitem, for example, scenes, chapters, and/or beginnings/ends ofcommercials).

In some embodiments, navigation bar 830 further includes currentposition indicator 826 overlaid on the plurality of images 814, 816,818, 820, and 822, in the navigation bar (e.g., an indicator such as aline that moves over and between the images in the navigation bar). Arelative location of current position indicator 826 with respect to eachof the plurality of images in navigation bar 830 optionally correspondsto the current position in the respective content item (e.g., if thecurrent position indicator is before an image in the navigation bar, thecurrent position in the respective content item is before the positioncorresponding to the image). In some embodiments, the relative locationof current position indicator 826 with respect to each of the pluralityof images in navigation bar 830 additionally or alternativelycorresponds to the representation of the current position in therespective content item displayed in region 828 of the user interface(e.g., the representation of the current position in the respectivecontent item displayed in region 828 of the user interface shows contentfrom the current position of the respective content item).

In some embodiments, the electronic device optionally scrolls (or“scrubs”) through the respective content item in response to inputdetected on a touch-sensitive surface of a device (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface of a remote control or a portable multifunctiondevice with a touchscreen display). In some embodiments, while the userinterface is displayed on display 450, the electronic device receives anindication of a first input that includes a contact (e.g., a fingercontact or stylus contact) detected on a touch-sensitive surface of adevice (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface of a remote control or aportable multifunction device with a touchscreen display). Detecting thecontact optionally comprises detecting a movement of the contact (e.g.,the first input is optionally a gesture input, such as a horizontalswipe on the touch-sensitive surface). The electronic device optionallymoves current position indicator 826 in navigation bar 830 in accordancewith the movement of the contact (e.g., if the first input is a swipe tothe right, the current position indicator is moved to the right in thenavigation bar). Moving current position indicator 826 optionallycomprises changing the relative location of the current positionindicator with respect to each image of the plurality of images 814,816, 818, 820, and 822, in navigation bar 830 in accordance with themovement of the contact (e.g., moving the current position indicatorover and through the plurality of images in the navigation bar as theplurality of images remain stationary), and updating the currentposition in the respective content item and the representation of thecurrent position in the respective content item (e.g., therepresentation displayed in region 828 of the user interface) inaccordance with the relative location of the current position indicatorwith respect to each image of the plurality of images (e.g., scrubbingthrough the respective content item based on the location of the currentposition indicator, including updating the video and/or image(s) of therespective content item displayed in region 828 of the user interface).

As shown in FIGS. 8D-8E, in some embodiments, the time interval betweenthe positions in the respective content item to which the plurality ofimages 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, in navigation bar 830 correspond isbased on a content type (e.g., movie, television show, sporting event,etc.) of the respective content item. In some embodiments, theelectronic device determines a content type (e.g., movie, televisionshow, etc.) of the respective content item. In accordance with adetermination that the content type of the respective content item is afirst content type (e.g., a broadcast of a sporting event, such as thetelevision broadcast in FIG. 8D), the electronic device optionallyselects a first position and a second position in the respective contentitem, the first position and the second position being separated by afirst interval (e.g., an amount of time). In some embodiments, the firstinterval is a time-based interval (e.g., the images 814, 816, 818, 820,and 822, in navigation bar 830 are images from the respective contentitem, the positions of which in the respective content item areseparated by 5, 10, or 20 minute intervals, for example, as shown inFIG. 8D), a first image of the plurality of images (e.g., image 814) inthe navigation bar corresponds to the first position in the respectivecontent item, and a second image of the plurality of images (e.g., image816) in the navigation bar corresponds to the second position in therespective content item.

In accordance with a determination that the content type of therespective content item is a second content type (e.g., a movie, such asthe movie in FIG. 8E), the electronic device optionally selects a thirdposition and a fourth position in the respective content item, the thirdposition and the fourth position being separated by a second interval(e.g., an amount of time), different from the first interval discussedabove. In some embodiments, the second interval is a content-basedinterval (e.g., the images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, in navigationbar 830 are images from the respective content item, the positions ofwhich in the respective content item are separated by content-basedintervals, such as scenes in a movie, chapters in a movie, and/orbeginnings/ends of commercials, as shown in FIG. 8E), the first image ofthe plurality of images (e.g., image 814) in the navigation barcorresponds to the third position in the respective content item, andthe second image of the plurality of images (e.g., image 816) in thenavigation bar corresponds to the fourth position in the respectivecontent item.

FIG. 8F illustrates an exemplary operation for scrolling into theadjacent content item in the navigation bar. As described above, theelectronic device optionally scrolls through navigation bar 830, and thecorresponding respective content item, in response to input detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451. For example, the input optionally includescontact 801, and movement of the contact, as illustrated. In theillustrated example, the input is a horizontal swipe input, though thescope of the disclosure is not so limited.

Eventually, scrolling through navigation bar 830 optionally results inreaching the end of the respective content item, and thus currentposition indicator 826 optionally reaches the end of the portion of thenavigation bar that includes images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, fromthe respective content item. If further scrolling input is detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451, current position indicator 826 optionallycrosses over into the portion of navigation bar 830 that includes therepresentation of the adjacent content item 824. In response, scrollingoptionally continues through the content item corresponding to therepresentation of the adjacent content tem 824, as described below.Thus, the navigation bar of this disclosure allows a user to scrollthrough a current content item, and also scroll into one or more contentitems that are adjacent to the current content item (e.g., previous/nexttelevision episodes).

To facilitate the above scrolling, in some embodiments, a thresholdseparates the plurality of images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, innavigation bar 830 from the representation of the first adjacent contentitem 824 in the navigation bar (e.g., a line or other visual indicationof a separation between the plurality of images and the representationof the first adjacent content item). The electronic device optionallydetermines that current position indicator 826 has crossed over thethreshold from the plurality of images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822, innavigation bar 830 to the representation of the first adjacent contentitem 824 in the navigation bar (e.g., the current position indicator hasmoved all the way through the plurality of images, and into the portionof the navigation bar including the representation of the first adjacentcontent item).

FIG. 8G illustrates an exemplary operation that results from scrollinginto the adjacent content item in the navigation bar. When currentposition indicator 826 has crossed over into the representation ofadjacent content item 824, as described above, navigation bar 830 isoptionally reconstituted to reflect that the adjacent content item hasnow become the current content item.

To accomplish this reconstitution, in some embodiments, in accordancewith the determination that current position indicator 826 has crossedover the threshold from the plurality of images 814, 816, 818, 820, and822, in navigation bar 830 to the representation of the first adjacentcontent item 824 in the navigation bar, the electronic device replaces,in the navigation bar, the plurality of images corresponding todifferent positions in the respective content item (images 814, 816,818, 820, and 822 in FIG. 8F) with a second plurality of images (image834, 836, 838, 840, and 842 in FIG. 8G) corresponding to differentpositions in the first adjacent content item (e.g., the first adjacentcontent item now becomes the “currently selected” content item, imagesfrom which populate the navigation bar). The electronic deviceoptionally sets the relative location of current position indicator 826with respect to each image of the second plurality of images 834, 836,838, 840, and 842, in navigation bar 830 to correspond to a currentposition in the first adjacent content item (e.g., the electronic devicerepositions the current position indicator to the beginning, as shown inFIG. 8G, or end of the first adjacent content item, depending on whetherthe current position indicator has been scrolled into the previouscontent item or the next content item).

In some embodiments, the electronic device replaces, in navigation bar830, the representation of the first adjacent content item 824 (in FIG.8F) with a representation of a second adjacent content item 844 (in FIG.8G) in the plurality of content items—because what used to be the firstadjacent content item has become the current content item, theelectronic device optionally needs to determine a content item that isadjacent to the first adjacent content item, different from therespective content item. In other words, the electronic deviceoptionally determines a next content item (e.g., the second adjacentcontent item) with respect to the first adjacent content item 824 inFIG. 8F.

In some embodiments, the second adjacent content item (e.g., the contentitem that is adjacent to the first adjacent content item) is differentthan the respective content item, and the second adjacent content itemis adjacent to the first adjacent content item in the sequence ofcontent items.

The electronic device optionally replaces, in the user interface, therepresentation of the current position of the respective content item,which was displayed in region 828 of the user interface, with arepresentation of the current position in the first adjacent contentitem in region 828 of the user interface (e.g., the electronic deviceoptionally updates the user interface to display an image/video from thecurrent position in the first adjacent content item instead of animage/video from the original, respective content item). In this way,the electronic device facilitates scrolling from one content item to anadjacent content item. Though the discussion above has focused onscrolling into a next content item, the operations disclosed abovesimilarly apply to scrolling into a previous content item, the detailsof which are omitted here for brevity.

FIGS. 9A-9G are flow diagrams illustrating a method 900 of presenting acontent navigation bar in accordance with some embodiments. The method900 is optionally performed at an electronic device such as device 500as described above with reference to FIG. 5, including a set top box orother user interface generating device that is in communication with aremote control and a display device. Some operations in method 900 are,optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally,changed.

As described below, the method 900 provides ways in which a deviceoptionally presents a content navigation bar in a user interface. Themethod reduces the cognitive burden on a user when interacting with auser interface on the device, thereby creating a more efficienthuman-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices,increasing the efficiency of the user's interaction with the userinterface conserves power and increases the time between batterycharges.

In some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., a set top box or otheruser interface generating device that is in communication with a remotecontrol and a display device, such as device 500 in FIG. 5) with one ormore processors and memory obtains (902) information that identifies asequence of content items that includes a plurality of content items(e.g., movies, television shows, applications, etc.). For example, theelectronic device optionally obtains information that identifiessequence 802 of N content items in FIG. 8A. In some embodiments,obtaining the information that identifies the sequence of content itemsincluding a respective content item comprises (904) determining (906) acontent type (e.g., movie, television show, etc.) of the respectivecontent item. In some embodiments, obtaining the information thatidentifies the sequence of content items including a respective contentitem comprises (904), in accordance with a determination that thecontent type of the respective content item is a first content type,identifying (908) a first sequence of content items that includes therespective content item. (e.g., the respective content item isoptionally content item 2 806 in FIG. 8A) In some embodiments, a firstcontent item immediately precedes the respective content item in thesequence of content items (910) (e.g., the first content item isoptionally content item 1 804 in FIG. 8A). In some embodiments, a secondcontent item immediately follows the respective content item in thesequence of content items (912) (e.g., the second content item isoptionally content item 3 808 in FIG. 8A). For example, if the contenttype of the respective content item is a television series, therespective content item is optionally an episode of the televisionseries, the first content item is optionally an immediately previousepisode in the television series, and the second content item isoptionally an immediately next episode in the television series.

In some embodiments, obtaining the information that identifies thesequence of content items including a respective content item comprises(904), in accordance with a determination that the content type of therespective content item is a second content type, identifying (914) asecond sequence of content items that includes the respective contentitem, the second sequence of content items being different than thefirst sequence of content items. In some embodiments, a third contentitem is adjacent to the respective content item in the second sequenceof content items, the third content item being different than the firstcontent item and the second content item (916). For example, if thecontent type of the respective content item is a television broadcast,the respective content item is optionally a television program broadcastduring a time slot, the first content item is optionally a televisionprogram broadcast during an immediately previous time slot, and thesecond content item is optionally a television program broadcast duringan immediately next time slot.

In some embodiments, while a respective content item from the pluralityof content items is a currently selected content item (e.g., a contentitem selected for presentation to the user on a display device), thedevice generates (918) a user interface for display on a display device.In some embodiments, the user interface includes (920) a representationof a current position in the respective content item (922) (e.g., alarge version of the playing content). This representation of thecurrent position in the respective content item is optionally providedin, for example, region 828 of the user interface in FIG. 8B.

In some embodiments, the user interface includes (920) a navigation bar(e.g., navigation bar 830 in FIG. 8B) that includes a plurality ofimages (e.g., images 814, 816, 818, 812, and 822 in FIG. 8B)corresponding to different positions in the respective content item anda representation of a first adjacent content item (e.g., representation812 or 824 in FIG. 8B) in the plurality of content items that isadjacent to the respective content item in the sequence of content items(924) (e.g., the navigation bar includes images from the second episodein a television series (the respective content item) and arepresentation of the first episode in the television series (the firstadjacent content item)). In some embodiments, the representation of thefirst adjacent content item in the navigation bar comprises an imagefrom a position in the first adjacent content item (926) (e.g.,representation 824 in FIG. 8B comprises a screenshot from the previousepisode in a television series). In some embodiments, the navigation barfurther includes a representation of a second adjacent content item(e.g., the next content item) in the plurality of content items that isadjacent to the respective content item in the sequence of content items(e.g., the navigation bar includes representations of a previous and anext content item, such as representations 812 and 824 in FIG. 8B), thefirst adjacent content item precedes the respective content item in thesequence of content items (e.g., the first adjacent content item is anepisode previous to the current episode in a television series, or atelevision program broadcast during a time slot previous to the currenttelevision program), and the second adjacent content item follows therespective content item in the sequence of content items (928) (e.g.,the second adjacent content item is an episode following the currentepisode in a television series, or a television program broadcast duringa time slot following the current television program).

In some embodiments, the navigation bar further includes a currentposition indicator overlaid on the plurality of images (e.g., currentposition indicator 826) in the navigation bar (e.g., a line that movesover and between the images), and a relative location of the currentposition indicator with respect to each of the plurality of images inthe navigation bar corresponds to (930) the current position in therespective content item (932) (e.g., if the current position indicatoris before an image in the navigation bar, the current position in therespective content item is before the position corresponding to theimage), and the representation of the current position in the respectivecontent item (934) (e.g., the representation of the current position inthe respective content item shows content from the current position).

In some embodiments, the representation of the respective content itemis larger than the navigation bar in the user interface (936) (e.g., thevideo of the respective content item is relatively large (shown inregion 828 in FIG. 8B), while the images in the navigation bar (images814, 816, 818, 820, and 822 in FIG. 8B) are relatively small). In someembodiments, the representation of the respective content item comprisesvideo from the respective content item, the video including theplurality of images in the navigation bar (938). In some embodiments,the plurality of images in the navigation bar comprise a plurality ofstill images from the respective content item (940).

In some embodiments, generating the user interface for display on thedisplay device comprises (942) determining (944) a content type (e.g.,movie, television show, etc.) of the respective content item.

In some embodiments, generating the user interface for display on thedisplay device comprises (942), in accordance with a determination thatthe content type of the respective content item is a first content type,selecting (946) a first position and a second position in the respectivecontent item, the first position and the second position being separatedby a first interval (e.g., an amount of time). In some embodiments, thefirst interval is a time-based interval (948) (e.g., the images in thenavigation bar (e.g., images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822 in FIG. 8B) areimages from the respective content item, the positions of which in therespective content item are separated by 5, 10, or 20 minute intervals,for example). In some embodiments, a first image of the plurality ofimages in the navigation bar corresponds to the first position in therespective content item (950) (e.g., image 814 in FIG. 8B optionallycorresponds to the first position in the respective content item). Insome embodiments, a second image of the plurality of images in thenavigation bar corresponds to the second position in the respectivecontent item (952) (e.g., image 816 in FIG. 8B optionally corresponds tothe first position in the respective content item).

In some embodiments, generating the user interface for display on thedisplay device comprises (942), in accordance with a determination thatthe content type of the respective content item is a second contenttype, selecting (954) a third position and a fourth position in therespective content item, the third position and the fourth positionbeing separated by a second interval, different from the first interval.In some embodiments, the second interval is a content-based interval(956) (e.g., the images in the navigation bar (e.g., images 814, 816,818, 820, and 822 in FIG. 8B) are images from the respective contentitem, the positions of which in the respective content item areseparated by content-based intervals, such as scenes, chapters, and/orbeginnings/ends of commercials). In some embodiments, the first image ofthe plurality of images in the navigation bar corresponds to the thirdposition in the respective content item (958). In some embodiments, thesecond image of the plurality of images in the navigation barcorresponds to the fourth position in the respective content item (960).In some embodiments, after generating the user interface for display onthe display device, the device provides (962) the user interface to thedisplay device.

In some embodiments, while the user interface is displayed on thedisplay device, the device receives (964) an indication of a first inputthat includes a contact (e.g., a finger contact or stylus contact)detected on a touch-sensitive surface of a device (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface of a remote control or a portable multifunctiondevice with a touchscreen display). In some embodiments, the devicecomprises an input device, and the input device and the display deviceare separate devices (966). In some embodiments, detecting the contactcomprises detecting a movement of the contact (968) (e.g., the firstinput is a gesture input, such as a horizontal swipe on thetouch-sensitive surface, such as the movement of contact 801 asillustrated in FIG. 8F). In some embodiments, the device moves (970) thecurrent position indicator in the navigation bar in accordance with themovement of the contact (e.g., if the first input is a swipe to theright, the current position indicator is moved to the right in thenavigation bar, as is illustrated in FIG. 8F).

In some embodiments, moving the current position indicator comprises(972) changing (974) the relative location of the current positionindicator with respect to each image of the plurality of images in thenavigation bar in accordance with the movement of the contact (e.g.,moving the current position indicator over and through the plurality ofimages in the navigation bar as the plurality of images remainstationary). In some embodiments, moving the current position indicatorcomprises (972) updating (976) the current position in the respectivecontent item and the representation of the current position in therespective content item in accordance with the relative location of thecurrent position indicator with respect to each image of the pluralityof images (e.g., scrubbing through the respective content item based onthe location of the current position indicator, including updating thevideo and/or image of the respective content item displayed in the userinterface in region 828 in FIG. 8F, for example).

In some embodiments, a threshold separates the plurality of images inthe navigation bar from the representation of the first adjacent contentitem in the navigation bar (978) (e.g., a line or other visualindication of a separation between the plurality of images and therepresentation of the first adjacent content item, as is illustrated inFIG. 8F). In some embodiments, the device determines (980) that thecurrent position indicator has crossed over the threshold from theplurality of images in the navigation bar to the representation of thefirst adjacent content item in the navigation bar (e.g., the currentposition indicator has moved all the way through the plurality ofimages, and onto the representation of the first adjacent content item,as is illustrated in FIG. 8F).

In some embodiments, in accordance with the determination (982) that thecurrent position indicator has crossed over the threshold, the devicereplaces (984), in the navigation bar, the plurality of imagescorresponding to different positions in the respective content item witha second plurality of images corresponding to different positions in thefirst adjacent content item (e.g., the first adjacent content item nowbecomes the “currently selected” content item, images from whichpopulate the navigation bar). For example, after current positionindicator 826 in FIG. 8F has crossed over the threshold torepresentation 824, images 814, 816, 818, 820, and 822 are optionallyreplaced by images from different positions in the content itemassociated with representation 824, as is illustrated in FIG. 8G. Now,representation 832 is optionally associated with the respective contentitem, and images 834, 836, 838, 840, and 842 are optionally associatedwith the first adjacent content item. In some embodiments, the devicesets (986) the relative location of the current position indicator withrespect to each image of the second plurality of images in thenavigation bar to correspond to a current position in the first adjacentcontent item (e.g., the device repositions the current positionindicator to the beginning or end, as is appropriate, of the firstadjacent content item, as illustrated in FIG. 8G).

In some embodiments, the device replaces (988), in the navigation bar,the representation of the first adjacent content item with arepresentation of a second adjacent content item in the plurality ofcontent items (e.g., now, the device determines a content item that isadjacent to the first adjacent content item, different from therespective content item, and places a representation of the secondadjacent content item in the navigation bar as representation 844 inFIG. 8G, for example). In some embodiments, the second adjacent contentitem is different than the respective content item (990). In someembodiments, the second adjacent content item is adjacent to the firstadjacent content item in the sequence of content items (992).

In some embodiments, the device replaces (994), in the user interface,the representation of the current position of the respective contentitem with a representation of the current position in the first adjacentcontent item (e.g., the device updates the user interface to display, inregion 828 in FIG. 8G, for example, an image from the current positionin the first adjacent content item instead of an image from therespective content item).

In some embodiments, a first image of the plurality of images in thenavigation bar corresponds to a first position in the respective contentitem (996). In some embodiments, a second image of the plurality ofimages in the navigation bar corresponds to a second position in therespective content item, the first position in the respective contentitem and the second position in the respective content item beingseparated by a first interval (998) (e.g., an amount of time, forexample, 5 or 10 minutes).

In some embodiments, while the user interface is displayed on thedisplay device, the device receives (998-1) an indication of a firstinput that includes a contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of adevice, wherein detecting the contact comprises detecting a movement ofthe contact (e.g., a vertical swipe on the touch-sensitive surface).

In some embodiments, in accordance with the movement of the contact, thedevice selects (998-2) a third position and a fourth position in therespective content item, the third position and fourth position beingseparated by a second interval that is different than the first interval(e.g., larger or smaller than the first interval). In some embodiments,selecting the third position and the fourth position in the respectivecontent item comprises (998-3) determining (998-4) a content type (e.g.,movie, television show, etc.) of the respective content item. In someembodiments, selecting the third position and the fourth position in therespective content item comprises (998-3) in accordance with adetermination that the content type of the respective content item is afirst content type, selecting (998-5) the second interval separating thethird position and fourth position in the respective content item to bea time-based interval (e.g., separated by 5, 10, or 20 minutes). In someembodiments, selecting the third position and the fourth position in therespective content item comprises (998-3), in accordance with adetermination that the content type of the respective content item is asecond content type, selecting (998-6) the second interval separatingthe third position and fourth position in the respective content item tobe a content-based interval (e.g., separated by an amount of time basedon the content of the respective content item, for example, scenes,chapters, and/or beginnings/ends of commercials).

In some embodiments, the device replaces (998-8) the first image in thenavigation bar with the third image, and the second image in thenavigation bar with the fourth image.

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 9A-9G have been described is merely exemplary and isnot intended to indicate that the described order is the only order inwhich the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,methods 700, 1100, 1300 and 1500) are also applicable in an analogousmanner to method 900 described above with respect to FIGS. 9A-9G. Forexample, the user interface, display device and content items describedabove with reference to method 900 optionally have one or more of thecharacteristics of the user interfaces, display devices and contentitems described herein with reference to other methods described herein(e.g., methods 700, 1100, 1300 and 1500). For brevity, these details arenot repeated here.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modulesin an information processing apparatus such as general purposeprocessors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A, 3 and 5)or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 9A-9G are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. Forexample, obtaining operation 902, generation operation 918, andproviding operation 962 are, optionally, implemented by event sorter170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor 171 inevent sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display 112, andevent dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information toapplication 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on thetouch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event,such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respectivepredefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of theevent or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls dataupdater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internalstate 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respectiveGUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application.Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in theart how other processes can be implemented based on the componentsdepicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Predefined Movement in a User Interface

When interacting with a user interface presented by an electronicdevice, a user can sometimes mean to move a cursor, for example, by acertain amount in the user interface, but can accidentally move thecursor less or more than that due to imprecision in the user's input ona touch-sensitive surface, for example. Thus, it can be beneficial forthe electronic device to provide for mechanisms for moving a cursor in auser interface by a predefined amount (e.g., by a single element in theuser interface) in response to certain inputs detected on an inputdevice (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface) to enhance the user'sexperience with the device. The embodiments described below provide waysto allow for such cursor movement. Enhancing interactions with a devicereduces the amount of time needed by a user to perform operations, andthus reduces the power usage of the device and increases battery lifefor battery-powered devices.

FIGS. 10A-10D illustrate exemplary ways in which an electronic devicemoves a cursor in a user interface by a predefined amount in accordancewith some embodiments of the disclosure. The embodiments in thesefigures are used to illustrate the processes described below, includingthe processes described with reference to FIGS. 11A-11D.

FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary user interface. Display 450 optionallydisplays a user interface that includes various user interface elements1002, 1004, and 1006. The user interface also optionally includesselection-indicator 1008, which provides an indication of a currentlyselected user interface element (e.g., element 1002) of the plurality ofuser interface elements (e.g., elements 1002, 1004, and 1006).Selection-indicator 1008, though illustrated as a visually distinctobject in the user interface, is optionally anything that provides anindication of a currently selected user interface element, such as aglow around the currently selected user interface element, a highlightaround the currently selected user interface element, or an outlinearound the currently selected user interface element.

As discussed above, in some circumstances, a user wishes to moveselection-indicator 1008 from element 1002 to another element (e.g.,element 1004). To do so, the user optionally provides input ontouch-sensitive surface 451, as will be described below.

FIG. 10B illustrates exemplary movement of selection-indicator 1008 inresponse to input detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. Movement ofselection-indicator 1008 is optionally performed in response to an inputthat includes contact 1001 being detected on touch-sensitive surface451. As shown in FIG. 10B, in some embodiments, the input detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451 is a horizontal swipe. The input optionallycorresponds to a respective value for a movement metric—a metricexpressing how much selection-indicator 1008 in the user interfaceshould move based on how much contact 1001 detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451 moves. In some embodiments, the movement metric isoptionally a metric based on a relationship of contact 1001 movement toselection-indicator 1008 movement. As shown in FIG. 10B, in someembodiments, the movement of contact 1001 detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451 corresponds to a movement metric for movingselection-indicator 1008 by the amount illustrated (e.g., to a positionin user interface between elements 1004 and 1006).

However, in some cases, the input detected on touch-sensitive surface451 was optionally intended to move selection-indicator 1008 by anamount other than the amount specified by the movement metric (such asby a single user interface element—from element 1002 to element 1004,for example). To address such cases, electronic device optionallyprovides for the ability to move selection-indicator 1008 by apredefined amount (e.g., by a single user interface element) in responseto detecting specified inputs and/or gestures.

FIG. 10C illustrates an exemplary scheme for moving selection-indicator1008 by a predefined amount in response to detecting an input ontouch-sensitive surface 451. The input detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451 is optionally the same input as described in FIG. 10B;however in this case, selection-indicator 1008 optionally moves by apredefined amount (e.g., from element 1002 to element 1004) in responseto the detection of the input. In some embodiments, as illustrated,moving selection-indicator 1008 by the predefined amount in the userinterface comprises moving the selection-indicator to indicate selectionof an adjacent user interface element (e.g., element 1004) in theplurality of user interface elements (e.g., elements 1002, 1004, and1006).

To facilitate such predefined movement of selection-indicator 1008, inresponse to receiving the indication of the first input (e.g., the inputdetected on touch-sensitive surface 451), the electronic deviceoptionally determines whether the first input meets unitary-movementcriteria (e.g., criteria that, when met, cause the selection-indicatorin the user interface to move by a predefined amount, such as by asingle user interface element). In accordance with a determination thatthe first input meets the unitary-movement criteria, the electronicdevice optionally moves selection-indicator 1008 by a predefined amountin the user interface (e.g., a predefined amount not based on therespective value for the selection-indicator movement metric. In someembodiments, the respective value for the movement metric is optionallyless than a value that would cause the selection-indicator in the userinterface to be moved by the predefined amount, or greater than a valuethat would cause the selection-indicator in the user interface to bemoved by the predefined amount). In accordance with a determination thatthe first input does not meet the unitary-movement criteria, theelectronic device optionally moves selection-indicator 1008 inaccordance with the respective value of the movement metric associatedwith the first input (e.g., the electronic device moves theselection-indicator in the user interface by an amount defined by themagnitude of the movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface,as described with reference to FIG. 10B. In some embodiments, this isoptionally greater than the predefined amount that theselection-indicator would move if the first input met the unitarymovement criteria, or less than the predefined amount that theselection-indicator would move if the first input met the unitarymovement criteria).

In some embodiments, movement of selection-indicator 1008 by apredefined amount occurs when the input detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451 is a “quick swipe”-type input. In other words, in someembodiments, the unitary-movement criteria include a criterion that ismet when liftoff of contact 1001 is detected within a first time period(e.g., 0.2, 0.4, or 1 seconds) of touchdown of the contact, and movementof the contact is greater than a first movement threshold (e.g., 0.1,0.2 or 0.5 cm) but less than a second movement threshold (e.g., 1 or 2cm). In some embodiments, the first movement threshold and the secondmovement threshold are defined in terms of contact movement needed ontouch-sensitive surface 451 to move selection-indicator 1008 by a singleUI element in the user interface (e.g., if 1 cm of movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface is needed to move theselection-indicator from a first UI element to a second UI element thatis adjacent to the first UI element, the first movement threshold isoptionally a first percentage of 1 cm (e.g., 10% of 1 cm), and thesecond movement threshold is optionally a second percentage of 1 cm(e.g., 100% of 1 cm)).

In some embodiments, moving selection-indicator 1008 by the predefinedamount, and moving the selection-indicator in accordance with therespective value of the movement metric, both comprise moving theselection-indicator in accordance with a direction of a movement ofcontact 1001 on touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., contact movement tothe right on the touch-sensitive surface optionally moves theselection-indicator to the right, whether by the predefined amount or bythe respective value of the movement metric—the same optionally holdsfor any direction of contact movement on the touch-sensitive surface).

In some embodiments, the plurality of user interface elements 1002,1004, and 1006, include a plurality of navigation columns (e.g.,plurality of navigation columns adjacent to each other, each columnincluding a plurality of vertically-arranged selectable items, such ascontent items to watch, applications to launch, etc.), and movingselection-indicator 1008 by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first navigation column to a secondnavigation column, adjacent to the first navigation column.

In some embodiments, the plurality of user interface elements 1002,1004, and 1006, include a plurality of images, and movingselection-indicator 1008 by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first image to a second image, adjacent tothe first image.

In some embodiments, the plurality of user interface elements 1002,1004, and 1006, include a plurality of content items in a gridarrangement (e.g., movies, television shows, applications, games, etc.,arranged in a grid, and selectable to access the respective contentitems), and moving selection-indicator 1008 by the predefined amountcomprises moving the selection-indicator from a first content item to asecond content item, adjacent to the first content item.

FIG. 10D illustrates another exemplary scheme for movingselection-indicator 1008 by a predefined amount in response to detectingan input on touch-sensitive surface 451. As shown in FIG. 10D, in someembodiments, selection-indicator 1008 is moved by a predefined amount(e.g., by a single user interface element) in response to detecting atap input 1003 in one of edge regions 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016, oftouch-sensitive surface 451. For example, a tap detected in edge region1012 optionally moves selection-indicator 1008 to the right by one userinterface element. Taps detected in edge regions 1010, 1014, and 1016,optionally result in movement of selection-indicator 1008 up, down, andto the left, respectively, by one user interface element.

In some embodiments, the unitary-movement criteria optionally include acriterion that is met when contact 1003 is detected in a first edgeregion (e.g., region 1012) of a plurality of edge regions (e.g., regions1010, 1012, 1014, and 1016) of touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., a top,bottom, right, and/or left outer 5%, 10% or 20% of the touch-sensitivesurface), liftoff of the contact is detected within a first time period(e.g., 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 seconds) of touchdown of the contact (e.g., atap), and movement of the contact is less than a movement threshold(e.g., less than 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 cm). In some embodiments, movingselection-indicator 1008 by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator in a direction that corresponds to the first edgeregion (e.g., region 1012) of touch-sensitive surface 451 in whichcontact 1003 was detected (e.g., tapping in the right edge region of thetouch-sensitive surface optionally moves the selection-indicator in theUI to the right by the predefined amount).

FIGS. 11A-11D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 1100 of moving acursor in a user interface by a predefined amount in accordance withsome embodiments. The method 1100 is optionally performed at anelectronic device such as device 500 as described above with referenceto FIG. 5, including a set top box or other user interface generatingdevice that is in communication with a remote control and a displaydevice. Some operations in method 1100 are, optionally, combined and/orthe order of some operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 1100 provides ways in which a deviceoptionally moves a cursor in a user interface by a predefined amount inresponse to specified inputs. The method reduces the cognitive burden ona user when interacting with a user interface on the device, therebycreating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operatedelectronic devices, increasing the efficiency of the user's interactionwith the user interface conserves power and increases the time betweenbattery charges.

In some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., a set top box or otheruser interface generating device that is in communication with a remotecontrol and a display device, such as device 500 in FIG. 5) with one ormore processors generates (1102) a user interface for display on adisplay device (e.g., a television or other display device). In someembodiments, the user interface includes a selection-indicator (e.g., aglow, highlight or outline around a currently selected user interfaceelement, such as indicator 1008 in FIG. 10A) indicating a currentlyselected user interface element of a plurality of user interfaceelements (1104) (e.g., user interface elements 1002, 1004, and 1006 inFIG. 10A). In some embodiments, the plurality of user interface elementsinclude a plurality of navigation columns (1106) (e.g., plurality ofnavigation columns adjacent to each other, each column including aplurality of vertically-arranged selectable items, such as content itemsto watch, applications to launch, etc.). In some embodiments, theplurality of user interface elements include a plurality of images(1108). In some embodiments, the plurality of user interface elementsinclude a plurality of content items in a grid arrangement (1110) (e.g.,movies, television shows, games, etc., arranged in a grid, andselectable to access the respective content items).

In some embodiments, while the user interface is displayed on thedisplay device, the device receives (1112) an indication of a firstinput that includes a contact (e.g., contact 1001 in FIG. 10B) detectedon a touch-sensitive surface of a device (e.g., a touch-sensitivesurface of a remote control or a portable multifunction device with atouchscreen display, such as touch-sensitive surface 451). In someembodiments, the first input corresponds to a respective value for amovement metric (1114) (e.g., a metric expressing how much theselection-indicator in the user interface should move based on how muchthe contact on the touch-sensitive surface moves. In other words, ametric based on a relationship of contact movement toselection-indicator movement). For example, the movement of contact 1001on touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 10B optionally corresponds to avalue for a movement metric for moving selection-indicator 1008 in theuser interface.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving the indication of thefirst input (1116) (e.g., the input defined by movement of contact 1001in FIG. 10B), the device determines (1118) whether the first input meetsunitary-movement criteria (e.g., criteria that, when met, cause theselection-indicator in the user interface (e.g., indicator 1008 in FIG.10B) to move by a predefined amount, such as by a single user interfaceelement). In some embodiments, the unitary-movement criteria include acriterion that is met when liftoff of the contact (e.g., contact 1001 inFIG. 10B) is detected within a first time period (e.g., 0.2, 0.4, or 1seconds) of touchdown of the contact, and movement of the contact isgreater than a first movement threshold (e.g., 0.1, 0.2 or 0.5 cm) butless than a second movement threshold (1120) (e.g., 1 or 2 cm). In someembodiments, the first movement threshold and the second movementthreshold are defined in terms of contact movement needed on thetouch-sensitive surface to move the selection-indicator by a single UIelement in the user interface (1122) (e.g., if 1 cm of movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface is needed to move theselection-indicator from a first UI object (e.g., user interface element1002) to a second UI object (e.g., user interface element 1004) that isadjacent to the first UI object, the first movement threshold isoptionally a first percentage of 1 cm (e.g., 10% of 1 cm), and thesecond movement threshold is optionally a second percentage of 1 cm(e.g., 100% of 1 cm)).

In some embodiments, the unitary-movement criteria include a criterionthat is met when the contact (e.g., contact 1003 in FIG. 10D) isdetected in a first edge region (e.g., region 1012 in FIG. 10D) of aplurality of edge regions of the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a top,bottom, right, and/or left outer 5%, 10% or 20% of the touch-sensitivesurface, as illustrated in FIG. 10D), liftoff of the contact is detectedwithin a first time period (e.g., 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 seconds) of touchdownof the contact (e.g., a tap), and movement of the contact is less than amovement threshold (1124) (e.g., less than 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 cm).

In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the firstinput meets the unitary-movement criteria, the device moves (1126) theselection-indicator by a predefined amount in the user interface (e.g.,a predefined amount not based on the respective value for theselection-indicator movement metric. In some embodiments, the respectivevalue for the movement metric can be less than a value that would causethe selection-indicator in the user interface to be moved by one unit,or greater than a value that would cause the selection-indicator in theuser interface to be moved by one unit). In some embodiments, moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount in the user interfacecomprises moving the selection-indicator to indicate selection of anadjacent user interface element in the plurality of user interfaceelements (1128) (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 10C and 10D). In someembodiments, moving the selection-indicator by the predefined amountcomprises moving the selection-indicator in accordance with a directionof a movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface (1130)(e.g., contact movement to the right on the touch-sensitive surface willmove the selection-indicator to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 10C).In some embodiments, moving the selection-indicator by the predefinedamount comprises moving the selection-indicator in a direction thatcorresponds to the first edge region of the touch-sensitive surface inwhich the contact was detected (1132) (e.g., tapping in the right edgeregion of the touch-sensitive surface will move the selection-indicatorin the UI to the right by the predefined amount, as illustrated in FIG.10D). In some embodiments, moving the selection-indicator by thepredefined amount comprises moving the selection-indicator from a firstnavigation column to a second navigation column, adjacent to the firstnavigation column (1134). In some embodiments, moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first image to a second image, adjacent tothe first image (1136). In some embodiments, moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first content item to a second content item,adjacent to the first content item (1138).

In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the firstinput does not meet the unitary-movement criteria, the device moves(1140) the selection-indicator in accordance with the respective valueof the movement metric associated with the first input (e.g., moving theselection-indicator in the user interface by an amount defined by themagnitude of movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Insome embodiments, this is optionally beyond the predefined amount thatthe selection-indicator would move if the first input met the unitarymovement criteria). Such movement of the selection-indicator inaccordance with the respective value of the movement metric associatedwith the first input is illustrated in FIG. 10B. In some embodiments,moving the selection-indicator in accordance with the respective valueof the movement metric comprises moving the selection-indicator inaccordance with a direction of a movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface (1142) (e.g., contact movement to the right onthe touch-sensitive surface will move the selection-indicator to theright, as illustrated in FIG. 10B).

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 11A-11D have been described is merely exemplary andis not intended to indicate that the described order is the only orderin which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,methods 700, 900, 1300 and 1500) are also applicable in an analogousmanner to method 1100 described above with respect to FIGS. 11A-11D. Forexample, the user interface, display device and touch-sensitive surfacedescribed above with reference to method 1100 optionally have one ormore of the characteristics of the user interfaces, display devices andtouch-sensitive surfaces described herein with reference to othermethods described herein (e.g., methods 700, 900, 1300 and 1500). Forbrevity, these details are not repeated here.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modulesin an information processing apparatus such as general purposeprocessors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A, 3 and 5)or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 11A-11D are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. Forexample, generation operation 1102, receiving operation 1112,determination operation 1118, and moving operations 1126 and 1140 are,optionally, implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, andevent handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects acontact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective eventrecognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information torespective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contactat a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to apredefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a userinterface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected,event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Grip Recognition

A device with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a remote control with atouch-sensitive surface) may be used to interact with an electronicdevice. Some people using the device (e.g., the remote) to interact withthe electronic device may hold the device differently than other peopleusing the device. This difference in grip may result in users providinginput to the touch-sensitive surface that, while meant to be the sameinput, looks slightly different based on the grip of the device (e.g.,whether the user is holding the device in the user's right hand or theuser's left hand, and whether the user is providing the input to thetouch-sensitive surface using the user's right hand or the user's lefthand). Thus, it can be beneficial to interpret inputs to thetouch-sensitive surface based on the grip of the user to improve theaccuracy of gesture detection (e.g., by more accurately determining userintent for a gesture based on a grip of the user while detecting thegesture). The embodiments described below provide ways to allow for suchinput interpretation by an electronic device. Enhancing interactionswith a device in this way reduces the amount of time needed by a user toperform operations, and thus reduces the power usage of the device andincreases battery life for battery-powered devices.

FIGS. 12A-12E illustrate exemplary ways in which inputs on atouch-sensitive surface are interpreted based on the grip of a user inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. The embodiments inthese figures are used to illustrate the processes described below,including the processes described with reference to FIGS. 13A-13C.

FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary input detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451 of a device. Touch-sensitive surface 451 is optionallyincluded in a device (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface of a remotecontrol or a portable multifunction device with a touchscreen display,such as remote 510 in FIG. 5). The device is optionally used to interactwith an electronic device, such as device 500 in FIG. 5. Additionally,the device is optionally a device that is held in one hand, and a useris optionally able to provide input to touch-sensitive surface 451 usinga finger on the same hand in which the user is holding the device. Forexample, the device is optionally a remote control havingtouch-sensitive surface 451. The remote control is optionally held ineither the user's right hand or left hand, and input to touch-sensitivesurface 451 on the remote control is optionally provided by the thumb,for example, of the hand in which the user is holding the remotecontrol.

The input detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally includesmovement of contact 1201 (e.g., a finger contact or stylus contact), asillustrated. In some embodiments, contact 1201 optionally corresponds toa thumb contact, as described above.

As stated above, it can be beneficial to interpret the movement ofcontact 1201 based on a determined grip of the user holding a devicethat includes touch-sensitive surface 451, because the grip of the useroptionally affects the shape of the movement of the contact. Forexample, a left-to-right horizontal swipe might look like the movementof contact 1201, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, when inputted by a user'sright thumb when the user is holding the device that includestouch-sensitive surface 451 in the user's right hand. In such acircumstance, the electronic device (e.g., device 500 in FIG. 5) withwhich the device with touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., remote 510 inFIG. 5) interacts optionally uses knowledge of the user's grip tointerpret the movement of contact 1201 to be a left-to-right horizontalswipe, despite the fact that the beginning of the movement of thecontact has upward trajectory. In contrast, if the electronic device hasknowledge that the user is holding the device that includestouch-sensitive surface 451 in the user's left hand, the electronicdevice optionally interprets the movement of contact 1201 to be morethan just a left-to-right horizontal swipe, because a left-to-righthorizontal swipe inputted by, for example, the user's left thumb whileholding the device in the user's left hand optionally does not look likethe movement of contact 1201, as illustrated in FIG. 12A.

To facilitate such grip-specific interpretations of inputs, in someembodiments, the electronic device determines a grip of a user using thedevice (e.g., determines whether the device that includestouch-sensitive surface 451 is being held in a user's right hand or theuser's left hand). The electronic device optionally interprets themovement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., contact1201 on touch-sensitive surface 451) based at least in part on the gripof the user. For example, the electronic device optionally interpretsthe movement of the contact as a first gesture (e.g., a horizontalswipe) if the grip is determined to be right-handed, and interprets themovement of the contact as a second gesture (e.g., a vertical swipe plusa horizontal swipe) if the grip is determined to be left-handed.

In some embodiments, determining the grip of the user using the devicecomprises determining the grip of the user using the device based atleast in part on an orientation of the device. In some embodiments,determining the grip of the user using the device comprises determiningthe grip of the user using the device based on an average orientation ofthe device over a most recent predetermined time period (e.g., 30, 90,or 180 seconds). In some embodiments, the orientation of the device isdetermined based on an accelerometer or other orientation sensor in thedevice.

Because the electronic device optionally interprets movement of acontact differently based on a determined grip of a user, actionsresulting from the movement of the contact are optionally also differentbased on the grip of the user, as illustrated in FIGS. 12B-12C. Thus, insome embodiments, interpreting the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., the movement of contact 1201 ontouch-sensitive surface 451) based at least in part on the grip of theuser comprises, in accordance with a determination that the grip is afirst grip (e.g., right-handed grip, as shown in FIG. 12B), performing afirst action in response to the first input, and, in accordance with adetermination that the grip is a second grip (e.g., left-handed grip, asshown in FIG. 12C), different from the first grip, performing a secondaction in response to the first input, different from the first action.With respect to the input shown in FIG. 12A, in some embodiments, thefirst action is optionally a purely horizontal movement of a cursor in auser interface (e.g., a purely horizontal movement of cursor 1210 inFIG. 12B in response to the upward and rightward movement of contact1201); the second action is optionally a vertical movement of the cursorin the user interface, followed by a horizontal movement of the cursorin the user interface (which mirrors the movement of contact 1201 ontouch-sensitive surface 451, such as the upward and rightward movementof cursor 1210 in FIG. 12C in response to the upward and rightwardmovement of contact 1201). Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 12B-12C, thesame movement of contact 1201 on touch-sensitive surface 451 optionallyproduces different actions depending on the determined grip of the user.

In some embodiments, the electronic device provides feedback informationfor display on a display device (e.g., a television or other displaydevice), the feedback information including information about thedetermined grip of the user using the device, and the interpretation ofthe movement of contact 1201 on touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., theelectronic device displays feedback after interpreting the movement ofthe contact to inform the user of the grip/gesture detected, possiblyallowing the user to correct the grip determination or the contactmovement interpretation).

In some embodiments, the electronic device optionally ignores differentportions of the movement of contact 1201 depending on the determinedgrip of the user, as will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 12D illustrates an exemplary scenario in which the electronicdevice ignores a first portion of the movement of contact 1201. In someembodiments, interpreting the movement of contact 1201 ontouch-sensitive surface 451 based at least in part on the grip of theuser comprises, in accordance with a determination that the grip is afirst grip (e.g., right-handed grip), ignoring a first portion 1202 ofthe movement of the contact. In some embodiments, the electronic deviceoptionally ignores portion 1202 of the movement of contact 1201, andrelies only on portion 1204 of the movement of the contact ininterpreting the movement of the contact.

In some embodiments, the first grip comprises a right-handed grip, andignoring the first portion of the movement of contact 1201 comprises, inaccordance with a determination that the movement of the contact is fromright to left on the touch-sensitive surface, ignoring an end of themovement of the contact. In some embodiments, ignoring the first portionof the movement of contact comprises, in accordance with a determinationthat the movement of the contact is from left to right on thetouch-sensitive surface (as illustrated in FIG. 12D), ignoring abeginning (e.g., portion 1202) of the movement of the contact. Forexample, if the grip is right-handed, the joint of the finger (e.g.,thumb) providing the contact will optionally be to the right of thetouch-sensitive surface on the device. The one or more portions of thefirst input detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface farfrom the joint (e.g., portion 1202 in FIG. 12D) are optionally distorteddue to reaching the limit of the finger's extension—those portions areoptionally ignored.

FIG. 12E illustrates an exemplary scenario in which the electronicdevice ignores a second portion of the movement of contact 1201. In someembodiments, interpreting the movement of contact 1201 ontouch-sensitive surface 451 based at least in part on the grip of theuser comprises, in accordance with a determination that the grip is asecond grip (e.g., left-handed grip), different from the first grip,ignoring a second portion 1208 of the movement of contact 1201,different from the first portion 1202 of the movement of the contact. Insome embodiments, the electronic device optionally ignores portion 1208of the movement of contact 1201, and relies only on portion 1206 of themovement of the contact in interpreting the movement of the contact.

In some embodiments, the second grip comprises a left-handed grip, andignoring the second portion of the movement of contact 1201 comprises,in accordance with a determination that the movement of the contact isfrom right to left on the touch-sensitive surface, ignoring a beginningof the movement of the contact. In some embodiments, ignoring the secondportion of the movement of the contact comprises, in accordance with adetermination that the movement of the contact is from left to right onthe touch-sensitive surface (as illustrated in FIG. 12E), ignoring anend (e.g., portion 1208) of the movement of the contact. For example, ifthe grip is left-handed, the joint of the finger (e.g., thumb) providingthe contact will optionally be to the left of the touch-sensitivesurface on the device. The one or more portions of the first inputdetected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface far from the joint(e.g., portion 1208 in FIG. 12E) are optionally distorted due toreaching the limit of the finger's extension—those portions areoptionally ignored.

FIGS. 13A-13C are flow diagrams illustrating a method 1300 ofinterpreting an input detected on a touch-sensitive surface based on thegrip of a user in accordance with some embodiments. The method 1300 isoptionally performed at an electronic device such as device 500 asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 5, including a set top box orother user interface generating device that is in communication with aremote control and a display device. Some operations in method 1300 are,optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally,changed.

As described below, the method 1300 provides ways in which inputs on atouch-sensitive surface are optionally interpreted based on the grip ofa user. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user wheninteracting with a user interface on the device, thereby creating a moreefficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronicdevices, increasing the efficiency of the user's interaction with theuser interface conserves power and increases the time between batterycharges.

In some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., a set top box or otheruser interface generating device that is in communication with a remotecontrol and a display device, such as device 500 in FIG. 5) with one ormore processors receives (1302) an indication of a first input thatincludes movement of a contact (e.g., a finger contact or styluscontact, such as contact 1201 in FIG. 12A. In some embodiments, thecontact optionally corresponds to a thumb contact) detected on atouch-sensitive surface of a device (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface ofa remote control or a portable multifunction device with a touchscreendisplay, such as touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 12A).

In some embodiments, the device determines (1304) a grip of a user usingthe device (e.g., the device determines whether the device is being heldin the user's right hand or the user's left hand). In some embodiments,determining the grip of the user using the device comprises determiningthe grip of the user using the device based at least in part on anorientation of the device (1306). In some embodiments, determining thegrip of the user using the device comprises determining the grip of theuser using the device based on an average orientation of the device overa most recent predetermined time period (1308) (e.g., 30, 90, or 180seconds). In some embodiments, the orientation of the device isdetermined based on an accelerometer or other orientation sensor in thedevice (1310).

In some embodiments, the device interprets (1312) the movement of thecontact (e.g., contact 1201 in FIG. 12A) on the touch-sensitive surfacebased at least in part on the grip of the user (e.g., the deviceinterprets the movement of the contact as a first gesture (e.g.,horizontal swipe) if the grip is determined to be right-handed, andinterprets the movement of the contact as a second gesture (e.g.,vertical swipe+horizontal swipe) if the grip is determined to beleft-handed). In some embodiments, interpreting the movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface based at least in part on thegrip of the user comprises (1314), in accordance with a determinationthat the grip is a first grip (e.g., a right-handed grip), performing(1316) a first action in response to the first input. In someembodiments, interpreting the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface based at least in part on the grip of the usercomprises (1314), in accordance with a determination that the grip is asecond grip (e.g., a left-handed grip), different from the first grip,performing (1318) a second action in response to the first input,different from the first action. For example, the movement of contact1201 illustrated in FIG. 12A optionally results in performance of afirst action if the user's grip is determined to be right-handed, and asecond action if the user's grip is determined to be left-handed.

In some embodiments, interpreting the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface based at least in part on the grip of the usercomprises (1320), in accordance with a determination that the grip is afirst grip (e.g., a right-handed grip), ignoring (1322) a first portion(e.g., portion 1202 in FIG. 12D) of the movement of the contact. In someembodiments, the first grip comprises a right-handed grip (1324). Insome embodiments, ignoring the first portion of the movement of thecontact comprises (1326), in accordance with a determination that themovement of the contact is from right to left on the touch-sensitivesurface, ignoring (1328) an end of the movement of the contact. In someembodiments, ignoring the first portion of the movement of the contactcomprises (1326), in accordance with a determination that the movementof the contact is from left to right on the touch-sensitive surface,ignoring (1330) a beginning (e.g., portion 1202 in FIG. 12D) of themovement of the contact (e.g., if the grip is right-handed, the joint ofthe finger (e.g., thumb) providing the contact is optionally to theright of the touch-sensitive surface on the device. The portions of thefirst input detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface farfrom the joint (e.g., portion 1202 in FIG. 12D) are optionally distorteddue to reaching the limit of the finger's extension. Those portions areoptionally ignored). The remaining portions of the first input (e.g.,portion 1204 in FIG. 12D) are optionally not ignored.

In some embodiments, interpreting the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface based at least in part on the grip of the usercomprises (1320), in accordance with a determination that the grip is asecond grip (e.g., a left-handed grip), different from the first grip,ignoring (1332) a second portion (e.g., portion 1208 in FIG. 12E) of themovement of the contact, different from the first portion of themovement of the contact. In some embodiments, the second grip comprisesa left-handed grip (1334). In some embodiments, ignoring the secondportion of the movement of the contact comprises (1336), in accordancewith a determination that the movement of the contact is from right toleft on the touch-sensitive surface, ignoring (1338) a beginning of themovement of the contact. In some embodiments, ignoring the secondportion of the movement of the contact comprises (1336), in accordancewith a determination that the movement of the contact is from left toright on the touch-sensitive surface, ignoring (1340) an end (e.g.,portion 1208 in FIG. 12E) of the movement of the contact. For example,if the grip is left-handed, the joint of the finger (e.g., thumb)providing the contact is optionally to the left of the touch-sensitivesurface on the device. The portions of the first input detected at alocation on the touch-sensitive surface far from the joint areoptionally distorted due to reaching the limit of the finger'sextension. Those portions are optionally ignored. The remaining portionsof the first input (e.g., portion 1206 in FIG. 12E) are optionally notignored.

In some embodiments, the device provides (1342) feedback information fordisplay on a display device (e.g., a television or other displaydevice), the feedback information including information about thedetermined grip of the user using the device, and the interpretation ofthe movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., theelectronic device displays feedback after interpreting the movement ofthe contact to inform the user of the grip/gesture detected, possiblyallowing the user to correct the grip determination or the contactmovement interpretation).

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 13A-13C have been described is merely exemplary andis not intended to indicate that the described order is the only orderin which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,methods 700, 900, 1100 and 1500) are also applicable in an analogousmanner to method 1300 described above with respect to FIGS. 13A-13C. Forexample, the touch-sensitive surface described above with reference tomethod 1300 optionally has one or more of the characteristics of thetouch-sensitive surfaces described herein with reference to othermethods described herein (e.g., methods 700, 900, 1100 and 1500). Forbrevity, these details are not repeated here.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modulesin an information processing apparatus such as general purposeprocessors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A, 3 and 5)or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 13A-13C are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. Forexample, receiving operation 1302, determination operation 1304, andinterpretation operation 1312 are, optionally, implemented by eventsorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information toapplication 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on thetouch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event,such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respectivepredefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of theevent or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls dataupdater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internalstate 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respectiveGUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application.Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in theart how other processes can be implemented based on the componentsdepicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Character Recognition

There are many instances in which a user may wish to provide text inputto an electronic device (e.g., to provide a username or a password).Providing such text input using handwritten input is often simpler for auser than having to use an onscreen keyboard. Thus, it can be beneficialfor an electronic device to provide a robust handwritten input userinterface such that user interaction with the electronic device isenhanced. The embodiments described below provide ways for providingsuch a handwritten input user interface. Enhancing interactions with adevice in this way reduces the amount of time needed by a user toperform operations, and thus reduces the power usage of the device andincreases battery life for battery-powered devices.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate exemplary ways in which an electronic devicepresents a handwritten input user interface according to someembodiments of the disclosure. The embodiments in these figures are usedto illustrate the processes described below, including the processesdescribed with reference to FIGS. 15A-15D.

FIG. 14A illustrates an exemplary handwritten input user interfacedisplayed on display 450. The user interface optionally includes textentry field 1402. Text entry field 1402 is optionally any area of theuser interface into which text is to be inputted, such as a searchfield, a web address field, and/or a username/password field. Text(e.g., letters, numbers, words, symbols, etc.) is optionally inputtedinto text entry field 1402 by providing handwritten input ontouch-sensitive surface 451.

In some embodiments, the handwritten input provided on touch-sensitivesurface 451 optionally corresponds to more than one character (e.g.,letter, number, symbol, etc.). For example, the movement of contact 1401on touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally corresponds to a lower case“c” and an upper case “C”, as both the lower case “c” and the upper case“C” are optionally associated with the same or similar contact movementon the touch-sensitive surface. The movement of contact 1401 optionallyalso corresponds to an “O” and a “0”, because the movement optionallycorresponds to respective portions of the “O” and the “0” characters. Insuch circumstances, the electronic device optionally needs to determinewhich of the plurality of characters to which the movement of contact1401 corresponds to input into text entry field 1402. In someembodiments, this determination optionally depends on whether text entryfield 1402 is tolerant of character ambiguity.

In some embodiments, text entry field 1402 is optionally tolerant ofcharacter ambiguity. In other words, text entry field 1402 is optionallya text entry field in which some ambiguity about the characters enteredinto the text entry field is acceptable. For example, if text entryfield 1402 is a web address field (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator(URL) field), the cases, for example, of characters entered into thetext entry field are optionally unimportant. In such circumstances,entering “www.xyz.com” in text entry field 1402 is optionally equally asacceptable as entering “www.xYz.com” in the text entry field, becausethe cases of characters in a URL address are optionally ignored whenresolving the URL address. The above discussion optionally similarlyapplies to other kinds of character ambiguity in addition to charactercase ambiguity, such as ambiguity as to whether a character is a letteror a number (e.g., O vs 0).

In circumstances in which text entry field 1402 is tolerant of characterambiguity, in response to receiving an input that optionally correspondsto a plurality of candidate characters (e.g., the movement of contact1401 that optionally corresponds to a lower case “c” and an upper case“C”), the electronic device optionally displays a top candidatecharacter (e.g., the candidate character that the electronic devicedetermines is the best match for the handwritten input) in the textentry field. As shown in FIG. 14A, in some embodiments, the electronicdevice is displaying an upper case “C” 1404 in text entry field 1402 inresponse to the input received on touch-sensitive surface 451. In someembodiments, the determination as to whether text entry field 1402 istolerant of character ambiguity is made after receiving an indication ofthe end of the input received on touch-sensitive surface 451.

However, in some circumstances, a text entry field in a user interfaceis optionally not tolerant of character ambiguity.

FIG. 14B illustrates an exemplary handwritten input user interfacedisplayed on display 450 when a text entry field in the user interfaceis not tolerant of character ambiguity. The user interface optionallyincludes text entry field 1410. Text entry field 1410 is optionally anyarea of the user interface into which text is to be inputted, such as asearch field, a web address field, and/or a username/password field, asdiscussed above. Text (e.g., letters, numbers, words, symbols, etc.) isoptionally inputted into text entry field 1410 by providing handwritteninput using touch-sensitive surface 451, as discussed above.

In some embodiments, text entry field 1410 is optionally not tolerant ofcharacter ambiguity. In other words, text entry field 1410 is optionallya text entry field in which ambiguity about the characters entered intothe text entry field is not acceptable. For example, if text entry field1410 is a password entry field, the cases, for example, of charactersentered into the text entry field are optionally important. In suchcircumstances, entering “xyz” in text entry field 1410 is optionally notequally as acceptable as entering “xYz” in the text entry field, becausethe cases of characters in a password are optionally not ignored whendetermining whether a password is a correct password. The abovediscussion optionally similarly applies to other kinds of characterambiguity in addition to character case ambiguity, such as ambiguity asto whether a character is a letter or a number (e.g., O vs 0).

In circumstances in which text entry field 1410 is not tolerant ofcharacter ambiguity, in response to receiving an input that optionallycorresponds to a plurality of candidate characters (e.g., the movementof contact 1401 that optionally corresponds to a lower case “c” and anupper case “C”), the electronic device optionally displays at least twocharacter selection options 1406 that correspond to at least two of theplurality of candidate characters. These character selection options1406 optionally allow a user to indicate which of the characterselection options should be inputted in text entry field 1410. As shownin FIG. 14B, in some embodiments, the electronic device is displayingcharacter selection options 1406 that include an upper case “C”, a lowercase “c”, an “O”, and a “0” in response to the input received ontouch-sensitive surface 451. In some embodiments, the determination asto whether text entry field 1410 is tolerant of character ambiguity ismade after receiving an indication of the end of the input received ontouch-sensitive surface 451. In some embodiments, one of characterselection options 1406 is optionally selected to input the selectedcharacter option into text entry field 1410.

FIG. 14C illustrates an exemplary handwritten input user interfacedisplayed on display 450 when a character selection option is selectedin response to a selection input. As discussed above, one of characterselection options 1406 is optionally selected to input that selectedcharacter option into text entry field 1410. Selection of one ofcharacter selection options 1406 is optionally accomplished in anyappropriate manner. As shown in FIG. 14C, in some embodiments, selectionof a character selection option is in response to detecting an input ina region of touch-sensitive surface 451 that corresponds to thecharacter selection option.

Specifically, character selection options 1406 are optionally displayedin a layout similar to a layout of touch-sensitive surface 451. As shownin FIG. 14C, in some embodiments, character selection options 1406 aredisplayed in a 2×2 grid, and touch-sensitive surface 451 has a 2×2 gridof regions. Detection of an input (e.g., a tap or a click) in one of theregions of touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally results in selectionof the character selection option that is in the grid regioncorresponding to the region on touch-sensitive surface in which theinput was detected. For example, detection of an input in the upper-leftregion of touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally results in selection ofcharacter selection option “C”, detection of an input in the lower-leftregion of touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally results in selection ofcharacter selection option “O”, detection of an input in the lower-rightregion of touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally results in selection ofcharacter selection option “0”, and detection of an input in theupper-right region of touch-sensitive surface 451 optionally results inselection of character selection option “c”. As shown in FIG. 14C, insome embodiments, contact 1403 has been detected in the upper-rightregion of touch-sensitive surface 451, and as a result, lower case “c”1408 has been selected and inputted into text entry field 1410. As such,the electronic device allows a user to specify which character the userwishes to input to the device when ambiguity as to the handwrittencharacter exists.

In some embodiments, ambiguity as to the character being inputted ontouch-sensitive surface 451 is optionally resolved by the device inresponse to further handwritten input being detected by using thefurther handwritten input to further narrow the possible characters to asingle most-probable character. For example, a first portion of thehandwritten input optionally corresponds to the upper case and lowercase versions of a character (e.g., the downward stroke of a lower case“l” and an upper case “L”). However, as a second portion of thehandwritten input is detected (e.g., the horizontal stroke of an uppercase “L”), the first and second portions of the handwritten inputtogether optionally define the case of the character. In suchcircumstances, character selection options (e.g., character selectionoptions 1406) are optionally displayed in response to detecting thefirst portion of the handwritten input, and are optionally no longerdisplayed in response to detecting the second portion of the handwritteninput, which optionally resolves the ambiguity of the character beinginputted, as described above. In some embodiments, character ambiguityis resolved because the first and second portions of the handwritteninput together define a different character that does not have ambiguouscase (e.g., the first portion of the handwritten input optionallycorresponds to a lower case “l” and an upper case “L”, as above, and thesecond portion of the handwritten input optionally defines the characterto be a “D” rather than an “l” or an “L”. In some embodiments, the firstand second portions of the handwritten input together define a numberinstead of a letter, and thus the character ambiguity is resolved—forexample, the first portion of the handwritten input optionallycorresponds to a lower case “l” and an upper case “L”, as above, and thesecond portion of the handwritten input optionally defines the characterto be a “4”).

FIGS. 15A-15D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 1500 of detectinghandwritten input in accordance with some embodiments. The method 1500is optionally performed at an electronic device such as device 500 asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 5, including a set top box orother user interface generating device that is in communication with aremote control and a display device. Some operations in method 1500 are,optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally,changed.

As described below, the method 1500 provides ways in which a deviceoptionally responds to receiving an indication of an input thatcorresponds to a plurality of candidate characters. The method reducesthe cognitive burden on a user when interacting with a user interface onthe device, and reduces the need for the user to physically interactwith the device, thereby creating a more efficient human-machineinterface. For battery-operated electronic devices, increasing theefficiency of the user's interaction with the user interface conservespower and increases the time between battery charges.

In some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., a set top box or otheruser interface generating device that is in communication with a remotecontrol and a display device, such as device 500 in FIG. 5) with one ormore processors generates (1502) a user interface for display on adisplay device (e.g., a television or other display device, such asdisplay 450 in FIG. 14A). In some embodiments, the user interfaceincludes a text entry field (1504) (e.g., search field, web addressfield, username/password fields, etc., such as text entry fields 1402and 1410 in FIGS. 14A-14C).

In some embodiments, while the user interface is displayed on thedisplay device, the device receives (1506) an indication of a firstinput that includes movement of a contact (e.g., a finger contact orstylus contact, such as contact 1401 in FIGS. 14A-14B) detected on atouch-sensitive surface of a device (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface ofa remote control or a portable multifunction device with a touchscreendisplay, such as touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIGS. 14A-14B). In someembodiments, the movement of the contact corresponds to a plurality ofcandidate characters (1508) (e.g., a letter, a number, a word, a symbol,etc., such as described with reference to FIGS. 14A-14B).

In some embodiments, in response receiving the indication of the firstinput (1510), in accordance with a determination that the text entryfield is tolerant of character ambiguity (e.g., a search field; that is,a text entry field for which upper vs. lower case character input doesnot matter, for example, such as text entry field 1402 in FIG. 14A), thedevice displays (1512) a top candidate character of the plurality ofcandidate characters in the text entry field (e.g., the deviceoptionally automatically selects the top candidate if case does notmatter, such as character 1404 in FIG. 14A). In some embodiments, thecharacter ambiguity comprises ambiguity as to the case of a characterentered into the text entry field (1514) (e.g., s vs S). In someembodiments, the character ambiguity comprises ambiguity as to whether acharacter entered into the text entry field is a letter or a number(1516) (e.g., O vs 0). In some embodiments, the determination as to thecharacter ambiguity tolerance of the text entry field is made afterreceiving an indication of an end of the first input (1518).

In some embodiments, in response receiving the indication of the firstinput (1510), in accordance with a determination that the text entryfield is not tolerant of character ambiguity (e.g., a username orpassword field, such as text entry field 1410 in FIG. 14B), the devicedisplays (1520) a plurality of character selection options (e.g.,character selection options 1406 in FIG. 14B) that correspond to atleast two of the plurality of candidate characters (e.g., the devicedisplays a lower case and upper case version of a character. In someembodiments, a desired character is optionally selected to input theselected character into the text entry field). In some embodiments, thecharacter ambiguity comprises ambiguity as to the case of a characterentered into the text entry field (1522). In some embodiments, thecharacter ambiguity comprises ambiguity as to whether a characterentered into the text entry field is a letter or a number (1524). Insome embodiments, the text entry field is determined to be a text entryfield that is not tolerant of character ambiguity when the text entryfield is a password entry field (1526). In some embodiments, thedetermination as to the character ambiguity tolerance of the text entryfield is made after receiving an indication of an end of the first input(1528). In some embodiments, the plurality of character selectionoptions includes an upper case version and a lower case version of acharacter (1530) (as illustrated in FIG. 14B).

In some embodiments, the device receives (1532) an indication of asecond input (e.g., contact 1403 in FIG. 14C) detected on thetouch-sensitive surface of the device (e.g., a touch-sensitive surfaceof a remote control or a portable multifunction device with atouchscreen display). In some embodiments, in response to receiving theindication of the second input (1534), in accordance with adetermination that the second input corresponds to the lower caseversion of the character (e.g., a tap in a specific region of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device associated with the lower caseversion of the character, or a particular gesture associated with thelower case version of the character. For example, in FIG. 14C, contact1403 detected in the upper-right region of touch-sensitive surface 451),the device inputs (1536) the lower case version of the character intothe text entry field (e.g., lower case “c” 1408 into text entry field1410 in FIG. 14C). In some embodiments, in response to receiving theindication of the second input (1534), in accordance with adetermination that the second input corresponds to the upper caseversion of the character (e.g., a tap in a specific region of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device associated with the upper caseversion of the character, or a particular gesture associated with theupper case version of the character. For example, in FIG. 14C, a contactdetected in the upper-left region of touch-sensitive surface 451), thedevice inputs (1538) the upper case version of the character into thetext entry field.

In some embodiments, a first region of the touch-sensitive surface ofthe device (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface of a remote control or aportable multifunction device with a touchscreen display) is associatedwith a first candidate character of the plurality of candidatecharacters (e.g., the upper-right region of touch-sensitive surface 451being associated with the lower case “c” in character selection options1406 in FIG. 14C), and a second region of the touch-sensitive surface ofthe device, different than the first region, is associated with a secondcandidate character of the plurality of candidate characters (1540)(e.g., the upper-left region of touch-sensitive surface 451 beingassociated with the upper case “C” in character selection options 1406in FIG. 14C). In some embodiments, the relative location of the firstregion on the touch-sensitive surface to the second region on thetouch-sensitive surface is the same as the relative location of thefirst candidate character to the second candidate character in the userinterface. That is, the plurality of character selection options isdisplayed in a layout similar to a layout of the touch-sensitive surfaceof the device. In some embodiments, the device receives (1542) anindication of a second input (e.g., tap or tap-and-click) detected onthe touch-sensitive surface of the device. In some embodiments, inresponse to receiving the indication of the second input (1544), inaccordance with a determination that the second input was detected onthe first region of the touch-sensitive surface of the device, thedevice inputs (1546) the first candidate character into the text entryfield. In some embodiments, in response to receiving the indication ofthe second input (1544), in accordance with a determination that thesecond input was detected on the second region of the touch-sensitivesurface of the device, the device inputs (1548) the second candidatecharacter into the text entry field. For example, the plurality ofcharacter selection options are optionally displayed as a 2×2 grid inthe user interface (as illustrated in FIG. 14C), with a first characterin the top-left, a second character in the top-right, a third characterin the bottom-right, and a fourth character in the bottom-left.Selection of a respective one of the characters is optionallyaccomplished by tapping in the region on the touch-sensitive surface(top-left, top-right, bottom-right, bottom-left) corresponding to theregion in the grid in which the respective character is displayed, asillustrated in FIG. 14C.

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 15A-15D have been described is merely exemplary andis not intended to indicate that the described order is the only orderin which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,methods 700, 900, 1100 and 1300) are also applicable in an analogousmanner to method 1500 described above with respect to FIGS. 15A-15D. Forexample, the user interface, display device and touch-sensitive surfacedescribed above with reference to method 1500 optionally have one ormore of the characteristics of the user interfaces, display devices andtouch-sensitive surfaces described herein with reference to othermethods described herein (e.g., methods 700, 900, 1100 and 1300). Forbrevity, these details are not repeated here.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modulesin an information processing apparatus such as general purposeprocessors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A, 3 and 5)or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 15A-15D are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. Forexample, generation operation 1502, receiving operation 1506, anddisplaying operations 1512 and 1520 are, optionally, implemented byevent sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Eventmonitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the eventinformation to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 ofapplication 136-1 compares the event information to respective eventdefinitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a firstlocation on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefinedevent or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface.When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, eventrecognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 16 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 1600 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 16 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 16, an electronic device 1600 optionally includes areceiving unit 1602 configured to receive inputs, and a processing unit1604 coupled to the receiving unit 1602. In some embodiments, theprocessing unit 1604 includes a display enabling unit 1606, adetermining unit 1608, a performing unit 1610 and a detecting unit 1612.

In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1602 is configured to receive anindication of a first input that includes a contact detected on atouch-sensitive surface of a device, wherein the touch-sensitive surfaceincludes a plurality of predefined regions and each predefined region ofthe plurality of predefined regions is selectable to perform anassociated functionality. In some embodiments, the processing unit 1604is configured to generate a user interface for display on a displaydevice (e.g., with display enabling unit 1606), in response to receivingthe indication of the first input: determine whether the contact hasbeen detected for longer than a first time period (e.g., with thedetermining unit 1608); and in accordance with a determination that thecontact meets functionality display criteria that include a criterionthat is met when the contact has been detected for longer than the firsttime period, determine functionality information for display in the userinterface, the functionality information including information about afirst functionality of the plurality of associated functionalities(e.g., with the determining unit 1608).

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1604 is further configured to,in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet thefunctionality display criteria, forgo determination of the functionalityinformation including the information about the first functionality ofthe plurality of associated functionalities (e.g., with the determiningunit 1608).

In some embodiments, the functionality information comprises an overlaydisplayed over a moving image or a still image in the user interface. Insome embodiments, the functionality display criteria include a criterionthat is met when the contact has moved less than a first movementthreshold during the first time period.

In some embodiments, the processing unit is further configured to, inaccordance with a determination that the functionality display criteriahas not been met because the contact has moved more than the firstmovement threshold during the first time period, forgo determination ofthe functionality information including the information about the firstfunctionality of the plurality of associated functionalities (e.g., withdetermining unit 1608).

In some embodiments, the information about the first functionalitycomprises a visual cue for performing the first functionality. In someembodiments, the information about the first functionality is displayedat a first location in the user interface, the first locationcorresponding to a first predefined region on the touch-sensitivesurface associated with the first functionality. In some embodiments,the functionality information further includes second information abouta second functionality of the plurality of associated functionalities,the second information is displayed at a second location in the userinterface, the second location corresponding to a second predefinedregion on the touch-sensitive surface associated with the secondfunctionality, and a relative positioning of the first location in theuser interface with respect to the second location in the user interfacecorresponds to a relative positioning of the first predefined region onthe touch-sensitive surface with respect to the second predefined regionon the touch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured toreceive an indication of a second input detected on a first predefinedregion of the touch-sensitive surface that is associated with the firstfunctionality, and the processing unit 1604 is further configured to, inresponse to receiving the indication of the second input, perform thefirst functionality associated with the first predefined region (e.g.,with performing unit 1610).

In some embodiments, detecting the second input comprises detecting thesecond input concurrently with the contact on the touch-sensitivesurface of the device. In some embodiments, detecting the second inputcomprises detecting a second contact on the first predefined region ofthe touch-sensitive surface of the device. In some embodiments,detecting the second input comprises detecting an increase in anintensity of the contact above a first predetermined intensitythreshold.

In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1602 is further configured toreceive an indication of a third input detected on the first predefinedregion of the touch-sensitive surface that is associated with the firstfunctionality, wherein detecting the third input comprises detecting asecond increase in the intensity of the contact above a secondpredetermined intensity threshold, the second predetermined intensitythreshold being greater than the first predetermined intensitythreshold, and the processing unit 1604 is further configured to, inresponse to receiving the indication of the third input, forgoperformance of the first functionality associated with the firstpredefined region on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., with performingunit 1610), and perform a second functionality associated with the firstpredefined region of the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., with performingunit 1610), the second functionality being different than the firstfunctionality.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1604 is further configured to,prior to performing the second functionality, replace the functionalityinformation in the user interface with second functionality information(e.g., with the display enabling unit 1606), the second functionalityinformation including second information about the second functionalityassociated with the first predefined region of the touch-sensitivesurface.

In some embodiments, detecting the second input further comprisesdetecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface of the device forlonger than a second time period after detecting the increase in theintensity of the contact above the first predetermined intensitythreshold, and the processing unit 1604 is further configured to, inresponse to receiving the indication of the second input, forgoperformance of the first functionality associated with the firstpredefined region on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., with theperforming unit 1610), and perform a second functionality associatedwith the first predefined region of the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,with the performing unit 1610), the second functionality being differentthan the first functionality.

In some embodiments, the processing unit is further configured to, priorto performing the second functionality, replace the functionalityinformation in the user interface with second functionality information(e.g., with the display enabling unit 1606), the second functionalityinformation including second information about the second functionalityassociated with the first predefined region of the touch-sensitivesurface. In some embodiments, the device comprises an input device, andthe input device and the display device are separate devices.

In some embodiments, a first predefined region of the plurality ofpredefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface of the device isassociated with a first set of functionalities, the first set offunctionalities including the first functionality, and determining thefunctionality information for display in response to receiving theindication of the first input comprises: determining a current contextof the user interface; and selecting the first functionality from thefirst set of functionalities based on the current context of the userinterface. In some embodiments, selecting the first functionality fromthe first set of functionalities based on the current context of theuser interface includes: in accordance with a determination that thecurrent context is a first context, the first functionality correspondsto a first operation; and in accordance with a determination that thecurrent context is a second context, different from the first context,the first functionality corresponds to a second operation, differentfrom the first operation.

In some embodiments, a second predefined region of the plurality ofpredefined regions on the touch-sensitive surface of the device isassociated with a second set of functionalities, the second set offunctionalities including a second functionality; and determining thefunctionality information for display in response to receiving theindication of the first input further comprises: selecting the secondfunctionality from the second set of functionalities based on thecurrent context of the user interface, wherein: in accordance with thedetermination that the current context is the first context, the firstfunctionality corresponds to the first operation, and the secondfunctionality corresponds to a third operation different from the firstoperation and the second operation; and in accordance with thedetermination that the current context is the second context, the firstfunctionality corresponds to the second operation, and the secondfunctionality corresponds to a fourth operation different from the firstoperation, the second operation, and the third operation.

In some embodiments, the plurality of associated functionalitiesincludes navigation functionalities for navigating in the userinterface. In some embodiments, the plurality of associatedfunctionalities includes navigation functionalities for navigatingcontent in the user interface. In some embodiments, the plurality ofassociated functionalities includes navigation functionalities fornavigating one or more content bars in the user interface. In someembodiments, the plurality of associated functionalities includesinformation functionalities for presenting information about content inthe user interface.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 17 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 1700 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 17 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 17, an electronic device 1700 optionally includes areceiving unit 1702 configured to receive inputs, and a processing unit1704 coupled to the receiving unit 1702. In some embodiments, theprocessing unit 1704 includes an obtaining unit 1706, a display enablingunit 1708, a moving unit 1710 and a determining unit 1712.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1704 is configured to: obtaininformation that identifies a sequence of content items that includes aplurality of content items (e.g., with the obtaining unit 1706); while arespective content item from the plurality of content items is acurrently selected content item, generate a user interface for displayon a display device (e.g., with the display enabling unit 1708), whereinthe user interface includes: a representation of a current position inthe respective content item; and a navigation bar that includes aplurality of images corresponding to different positions in therespective content item and a representation of a first adjacent contentitem in the plurality of content items that is adjacent to therespective content item in the sequence of content items; and providethe user interface to the display device (e.g., with the displayenabling unit 1708).

In some embodiments, the representation of the first adjacent contentitem in the navigation bar comprises an image from a position in thefirst adjacent content item. In some embodiments, the navigation barfurther includes a representation of a second adjacent content item inthe plurality of content items that is adjacent to the respectivecontent item in the sequence of content items, the first adjacentcontent item precedes the respective content item in the sequence ofcontent items, and the second adjacent content item follows therespective content item in the sequence of content items.

In some embodiments, the navigation bar further includes a currentposition indicator overlaid on the plurality of images in the navigationbar, and a relative location of the current position indicator withrespect to each of the plurality of images in the navigation barcorresponds to: the current position in the respective content item, andthe representation of the current position in the respective contentitem. In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1702 is configured to,while the user interface is displayed on the display device, receive anindication of a first input that includes a contact detected on atouch-sensitive surface of a device, wherein detecting the contactcomprises detecting a movement of the contact, and the processing unit1704 is further configured to: move the current position indicator inthe navigation bar in accordance with the movement of the contact (e.g.,with the moving unit 1710), wherein moving the current positionindicator comprises: changing the relative location of the currentposition indicator with respect to each image of the plurality of imagesin the navigation bar in accordance with the movement of the contact;and updating the current position in the respective content item and therepresentation of the current position in the respective content item inaccordance with the relative location of the current position indicatorwith respect to each image of the plurality of images.

In some embodiments, a threshold separates the plurality of images inthe navigation bar from the representation of the first adjacent contentitem in the navigation bar, and the processing unit 1704 is furtherconfigured to: determine that the current position indicator has crossedover the threshold from the plurality of images in the navigation bar tothe representation of the first adjacent content item in the navigationbar (e.g., with the determining unit 1712); and in accordance with thedetermination: replace, in the navigation bar, the plurality of imagescorresponding to different positions in the respective content item witha second plurality of images corresponding to different positions in thefirst adjacent content item (e.g., with the display enabling unit 1708);set the relative location of the current position indicator with respectto each image of the second plurality of images in the navigation bar tocorrespond to a current position in the first adjacent content item(e.g., with the display enabling unit 1708); replace, in the navigationbar, the representation of the first adjacent content item with arepresentation of a second adjacent content item in the plurality ofcontent items (e.g., with the display enabling unit 1708), wherein: thesecond adjacent content item is different than the respective contentitem, and the second adjacent content item is adjacent to the firstadjacent content item in the sequence of content items; and replace, inthe user interface, the representation of the current position of therespective content item with a representation of the current position inthe first adjacent content item (e.g., with the display enabling unit1708).

In some embodiments, the device comprises an input device, and the inputdevice and the display device are separate devices. In some embodiments,the representation of the respective content item is larger than thenavigation bar in the user interface, the representation of therespective content item comprises video from the respective contentitem, the video including the plurality of images in the navigation bar,and the plurality of images in the navigation bar comprise a pluralityof still images from the respective content item.

In some embodiments, generating the user interface for display on thedisplay device comprises: determining a content type of the respectivecontent item; in accordance with a determination that the content typeof the respective content item is a first content type, selecting afirst position and a second position in the respective content item, thefirst position and the second position being separated by a firstinterval, wherein: the first interval is a time-based interval, a firstimage of the plurality of images in the navigation bar corresponds tothe first position in the respective content item, and a second image ofthe plurality of images in the navigation bar corresponds to the secondposition in the respective content item; and in accordance with adetermination that the content type of the respective content item is asecond content type, selecting a third position and a fourth position inthe respective content item, the third position and the fourth positionbeing separated by a second interval, different from the first interval,wherein: the second interval is a content-based interval, the firstimage of the plurality of images in the navigation bar corresponds tothe third position in the respective content item, and the second imageof the plurality of images in the navigation bar corresponds to thefourth position in the respective content item.

In some embodiments, obtaining the information that identifies thesequence of content items including the respective content itemcomprises: determining a content type of the respective content item; inaccordance with a determination that the content type of the respectivecontent item is a first content type, identifying a first sequence ofcontent items that includes the respective content item, wherein a firstcontent item immediately precedes the respective content item in thesequence of content items, and a second content item immediately followsthe respective content item in the sequence of content items; and inaccordance with a determination that the content type of the respectivecontent item is a second content type, identifying a second sequence ofcontent items that includes the respective content item, the secondsequence of content items being different than the first sequence ofcontent items, wherein a third content item is adjacent to therespective content item in the second sequence of content items, thethird content item being different than the first content item and thesecond content item.

In some embodiments, a first image of the plurality of images in thenavigation bar corresponds to a first position in the respective contentitem, a second image of the plurality of images in the navigation barcorresponds to a second position in the respective content item, thefirst position in the respective content item and the second position inthe respective content item being separated by a first interval, thereceiving unit 1702 is further configured to, while the user interfaceis displayed on the display device, receive an indication of a firstinput that includes a contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of adevice, wherein detecting the contact comprises detecting a movement ofthe contact, and the processing unit 1704 is further configured to: inaccordance with the movement of the contact, select a third position anda fourth position in the respective content item (e.g., with thedetermining unit 1712), the third position and fourth position beingseparated by a second interval that is different than the firstinterval; and replace the first image in the navigation bar with a thirdimage corresponding to the third position in the respective contentitem, and the second image in the navigation bar with a fourth imagecorresponding to the fourth position in the respective content item(e.g., with the display enabling unit 1706).

In some embodiments, selecting the third position and the fourthposition in the respective content item comprises: determining a contenttype of the respective content item; in accordance with a determinationthat the content type of the respective content item is a first contenttype, selecting the second interval separating the third position andfourth position in the respective content item to be a time-basedinterval; and in accordance with a determination that the content typeof the respective content item is a second content type, selecting thesecond interval separating the third position and fourth position in therespective content item to be a content-based interval.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 18 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 1800 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 18 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 18, an electronic device 1800 optionally includes areceiving unit 1802 configured to receive inputs, and a processing unit1804 coupled to the receiving unit 1802. In some embodiments, theprocessing unit 1804 includes a display enabling unit 1806, adetermining unit 1808, and a moving unit 1810.

In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1802 is configured to receive anindication of a first input that includes a contact detected on atouch-sensitive surface of a device, wherein the first input correspondsto a respective value for a movement metric, and the processing unit1804 is configured to: generate a user interface for display on adisplay device (e.g., with the display enabling unit 1806), wherein theuser interface includes a selection-indicator indicating a currentlyselected user interface element of a plurality of user interfaceelements; in response to receiving the indication of the first input:determine whether the first input meets unitary-movement criteria (e.g.,with the determining unit 1808); in accordance with a determination thatthe first input meets the unitary-movement criteria, move theselection-indicator by a predefined amount in the user interface (e.g.,with the moving unit 1810); and in accordance with a determination thatthe first input does not meet the unitary-movement criteria, move theselection-indicator in accordance with the respective value of themovement metric associated with the first input (e.g., with the movingunit 1810).

In some embodiments, moving the selection-indicator by the predefinedamount in the user interface comprises moving the selection-indicator toindicate selection of an adjacent user interface element in theplurality of user interface elements. In some embodiments, theunitary-movement criteria include a criterion that is met when: liftoffof the contact is detected within a first time period of touchdown ofthe contact, and movement of the contact is greater than a firstmovement threshold but less than a second movement threshold. In someembodiments, the first movement threshold and the second movementthreshold are defined in terms of contact movement needed on thetouch-sensitive surface to move the selection-indicator by a single UIelement in the user interface.

In some embodiments, moving the selection-indicator by the predefinedamount, and moving the selection-indicator in accordance with therespective value of the movement metric, both comprise moving theselection indicator in accordance with a direction of a movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, theunitary-movement criteria include a criterion that is met when: thecontact is detected in a first edge region of a plurality of edgeregions of the touch-sensitive surface, liftoff of the contact isdetected within a first time period of touchdown of the contact, andmovement of the contact is less than a movement threshold, and movingthe selection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator in a direction that corresponds to the first edgeregion of the touch-sensitive surface in which the contact was detected.

In some embodiments, the plurality of user interface elements include aplurality of navigation columns, and moving the selection-indicator bythe predefined amount comprises moving the selection-indicator from afirst navigation column to a second navigation column, adjacent to thefirst navigation column. In some embodiments, the plurality of userinterface elements include a plurality of images, and moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first image to a second image, adjacent tothe first image. In some embodiments, the plurality of user interfaceelements include a plurality of content items in a grid arrangement, andmoving the selection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises movingthe selection-indicator from a first content item to a second contentitem, adjacent to the first content item.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 19 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 1900 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 19 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 19, an electronic device 1900 optionally includes areceiving unit 1902 configured to receive inputs, an orientation unit1904 coupled to the receiving unit and configured to detect anorientation of the device, and a processing unit 1906 coupled to thereceiving unit 1902 and the orientation unit 1904. In some embodiments,the processing unit 1906 includes a determining unit 1908, aninterpreting unit 1910, a performing unit 1912, and a display enablingunit 1914.

In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1902 is configured to receive anindication of a first input that includes movement of a contact detectedon a touch-sensitive surface of a device; and the processing unit 1906is configured to: determine a grip of a user using the device (e.g.,with the determining unit 1908); and interpret the movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface based at least in part on thegrip of the user (e.g., with the interpreting unit 1910). In someembodiments, determining the grip of the user using the device comprisesdetermining the grip of the user using the device based at least in parton an orientation of the device. In some embodiments, determining thegrip of the user using the device comprises determining the grip of theuser using the device based on an average orientation of the device overa most recent predetermined time period. In some embodiments, theorientation of the device is determined based on an accelerometer orother orientation unit 1904 in the device.

In some embodiments, interpreting the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface based at least in part on the grip of the usercomprises: in accordance with a determination that the grip is a firstgrip, performing a first action in response to the first input (e.g.,with the performing unit 1912); and in accordance with a determinationthat the grip is a second grip, different from the first grip,performing a second action in response to the first input (e.g., withthe performing unit 1912), different from the first action. In someembodiments, interpreting the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface based at least in part on the grip of the usercomprises: in accordance with a determination that the grip is a firstgrip, ignoring a first portion of the movement of the contact; and inaccordance with a determination that the grip is a second grip,different from the first grip, ignoring a second portion of the movementof the contact, different from the first portion of the movement of thecontact.

In some embodiments, the first grip comprises a right-handed grip, andignoring the first portion of the movement of the contact comprises: inaccordance with a determination that the movement of the contact is fromright to left on the touch-sensitive surface, ignoring an end of themovement of the contact; and in accordance with a determination that themovement of the contact is from left to right on the touch-sensitivesurface, ignoring a beginning of the movement of the contact. In someembodiments, the second grip comprises a left-handed grip, and ignoringthe second portion of the movement of the contact comprises: inaccordance with a determination that the movement of the contact is fromright to left on the touch-sensitive surface, ignoring a beginning ofthe movement of the contact; and in accordance with a determination thatthe movement of the contact is from left to right on the touch-sensitivesurface, ignoring an end of the movement of the contact.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1906 is further configured toprovide feedback information for display on a display device (e.g., withthe display enabling unit 1914), the feedback information includinginformation about the determined grip of the user using the device, andthe interpretation of the movement of the contact on the touch-sensitivesurface.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 20 shows a functional blockdiagram of a first device 2000 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 20 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 20, an electronic device 2000 optionally includes areceiving unit 2002 configured to receive inputs, and a processing unit2004 coupled to the receiving unit 2002. In some embodiments, theprocessing unit 2004 includes a display enabling unit 2006, adetermining unit 2008, and an inputting unit 2010.

In some embodiments, the receiving unit 2002 is configured to receive anindication of a first input that includes movement of a contact detectedon a touch-sensitive surface of a device, wherein the movement of thecontact corresponds to a plurality of candidate characters; and theprocessing unit 2004 is configured to: generate a user interface fordisplay on a display device (e.g., with the display enabling unit 2006),wherein the user interface includes a text entry field; in responsereceiving the indication of the first input: in accordance with adetermination that the text entry field is tolerant of characterambiguity (e.g., with the determining unit 2008), display a topcandidate character of the plurality of candidate characters in the textentry field (e.g., with the display enabling unit 2006); and inaccordance with a determination that the text entry field is nottolerant of character ambiguity (e.g., with the determining unit 2008),display a plurality of character selection options that correspond to atleast two of the plurality of candidate characters (e.g., with thedisplay enabling unit 2006). In some embodiments, the characterambiguity comprises ambiguity as to the case of a character entered intothe text entry field. In some embodiments, the character ambiguitycomprises ambiguity as to whether a character entered into the textentry field is a letter or a number. In some embodiments, the text entryfield is determined to be a text entry field that is not tolerant ofcharacter ambiguity when the text entry field is a password entry field.In some embodiments, the determination as to the character ambiguitytolerance of the text entry field is made after receiving an indicationof an end of the first input.

In some embodiments, the plurality of character selection optionsincludes an upper case version and a lower case version of a character,the receiving unit is further configured to receive an indication of asecond input detected on the touch-sensitive surface of the device, andthe processing unit 2004 is further configured to: in response toreceiving the indication of the second input: in accordance with adetermination that the second input corresponds to the lower caseversion of the character (e.g., with the determining unit 2008), inputthe lower case version of the character into the text entry field (e.g.,with the inputting unit 2010); and in accordance with a determinationthat the second input corresponds to the upper case version of thecharacter (e.g., with the determining unit 2008), input the upper caseversion of the character into the text entry field (e.g., with theinputting unit 2010). In some embodiments, a first region of thetouch-sensitive surface of the device is associated with a firstcandidate character of the plurality of candidate characters, a secondregion of the touch-sensitive surface of the device, different than thefirst region, is associated with a second candidate character of theplurality of candidate characters, the receiving unit 2002 is furtherconfigured to receive an indication of a second input detected on thetouch-sensitive surface of the device, and the processing unit 2004 isfurther configured to: in response to receiving the indication of thesecond input: in accordance with a determination that the second inputwas detected on the first region of the touch-sensitive surface of thedevice (e.g., with the determining unit 2008), input the first candidatecharacter into the text entry field (e.g., with the inputting unit2010); and in accordance with a determination that the second input wasdetected on the second region of the touch-sensitive surface of thedevice (e.g., with the determining unit 2008), input the secondcandidate character into the text entry field (e.g., with the inputtingunit 2010).

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 7A-7G, 9A-9G,11A-11D, 13A-13C and 15A-15D are, optionally, implemented by componentsdepicted in FIGS. 1A-1B, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, or FIG. 20.For example, determining operations 712, 906, 1118, and 1304 are,optionally implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, andevent handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects acontact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective eventrecognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information torespective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contactat a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to apredefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a userinterface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected,event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B, FIGS. 1A-1B, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, FIG.18, FIG. 19, or FIG. 20.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best use the invention and variousdescribed embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: at an electronicdevice with one or more processors and memory: generating a userinterface for display on a display device, wherein the user interfaceincludes a selection-indicator indicating a currently selected userinterface element of a plurality of user interface elements; while theuser interface is displayed on the display device, receiving anindication of a first swipe input that includes a contact and movementof the contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of the electronicdevice or a separate input device in communication with the electronicdevice, wherein the movement of the contact corresponds to a respectivevalue for a movement metric; and in response to receiving the indicationof the first swipe input: determining whether the first swipe inputmeets unitary-movement criteria; in accordance with a determination thatthe first swipe input meets the unitary-movement criteria, moving theselection-indicator from the currently selected user interface elementby a predefined amount to a second user interface element of theplurality of user interface elements in the user interface; and inaccordance with a determination that the first swipe input does not meetthe unitary-movement criteria, moving the selection-indicator from thecurrently selected user interface element to a third user interfaceelement of the plurality of user interface elements in accordance withthe respective value of the movement metric associated with the firstswipe input.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount in the user interfacecomprises moving the selection-indicator to indicate selection of anadjacent user interface element in the plurality of user interfaceelements.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unitary-movementcriteria include a criterion that is met when: liftoff of the contact isdetected within a first time period of touchdown of the contact, and themovement of the contact is greater than a first movement threshold butless than a second movement threshold.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinthe first movement threshold and the second movement threshold aredefined in terms of contact movement needed on the touch-sensitivesurface to move the selection-indicator by a single UI element in theuser interface.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount, and moving theselection-indicator in accordance with the respective value of themovement metric, both comprise moving the selection indicator inaccordance with a direction of the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: theplurality of user interface elements include a plurality of navigationcolumns, and moving the selection-indicator by the predefined amountcomprises moving the selection-indicator from a first navigation columnto a second navigation column, adjacent to the first navigation column.7. The method of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of user interfaceelements include a plurality of images, and moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first image to a second image, adjacent tothe first image.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the plurality ofuser interface elements include a plurality of content items in a gridarrangement, and moving the selection-indicator by the predefined amountcomprises moving the selection-indicator from a first content item to asecond content item, adjacent to the first content item.
 9. Anelectronic device, comprising: one or more processors; memory; and oneor more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in thememory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, theone or more programs including instructions for: generating a userinterface for display on a display device, wherein the user interfaceincludes a selection-indicator indicating a currently selected userinterface element of a plurality of user interface elements; while theuser interface is displayed on the display device, receiving anindication of a first swipe input that includes a contact and movementof the contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of the electronicdevice or a separate input device in communication with the electronicdevice, wherein the movement of the contact corresponds to a respectivevalue for a movement metric; and in response to receiving the indicationof the first swipe input: determining whether the first swipe inputmeets unitary-movement criteria; in accordance with a determination thatthe first swipe input meets the unitary-movement criteria, moving theselection-indicator from the currently selected user interface elementby a predefined amount to a second user interface element of theplurality of user interface elements in the user interface; and inaccordance with a determination that the first swipe input does not meetthe unitary-movement criteria, moving the selection-indicator from thecurrently selected user interface element to a third user interfaceelement of the plurality of user interface elements in accordance withthe respective value of the movement metric associated with the firstswipe input.
 10. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumstoring one or more programs, the one or more programs comprisinginstructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one ormore processors and memory, cause the device to: generate a userinterface for display on a display device, wherein the user interfaceincludes a selection-indicator indicating a currently selected userinterface element of a plurality of user interface elements; while theuser interface is displayed on the display device, receive an indicationof a first swipe input that includes a contact and movement of thecontact detected on a touch-sensitive surface of the electronic deviceor a separate input device in communication with the electronic device,wherein the movement of the contact corresponds to a respective valuefor a movement metric; and in response to receiving the indication ofthe first swipe input: determine whether the first swipe input meetsunitary-movement criteria; in accordance with a determination that thefirst swipe input meets the unitary-movement criteria, move theselection-indicator from the currently selected user interface elementby a predefined amount to a second user interface element of theplurality of user interface elements in the user interface; and inaccordance with a determination that the first swipe input does not meetthe unitary-movement criteria, move the selection-indicator from thecurrently selected user interface element to a third user interfaceelement of the plurality of user interface elements in accordance withthe respective value of the movement metric associated with the firstswipe input.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount in the user interfacecomprises moving the selection-indicator to indicate selection of anadjacent user interface element in the plurality of user interfaceelements.
 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the unitary-movementcriteria include a criterion that is met when: liftoff of the contact isdetected within a first time period of touchdown of the contact, and themovement of the contact is greater than a first movement threshold butless than a second movement threshold.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein the first movement threshold and the second movement thresholdare defined in terms of contact movement needed on the touch-sensitivesurface to move the selection-indicator by a single UI element in theuser interface.
 14. The device of claim 9, wherein moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount, and moving theselection-indicator in accordance with the respective value of themovement metric, both comprise moving the selection indicator inaccordance with a direction of the movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface.
 15. The device of claim 9, wherein: theplurality of user interface elements include a plurality of navigationcolumns, and moving the selection-indicator by the predefined amountcomprises moving the selection-indicator from a first navigation columnto a second navigation column, adjacent to the first navigation column.16. The device of claim 9, wherein: the plurality of user interfaceelements include a plurality of images, and moving theselection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises moving theselection-indicator from a first image to a second image, adjacent tothe first image.
 17. The device of claim 9, wherein: the plurality ofuser interface elements include a plurality of content items in a gridarrangement, and moving the selection-indicator by the predefined amountcomprises moving the selection-indicator from a first content item to asecond content item, adjacent to the first content item.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, whereinmoving the selection-indicator by the predefined amount in the userinterface comprises moving the selection-indicator to indicate selectionof an adjacent user interface element in the plurality of user interfaceelements.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 10, wherein the unitary-movement criteria include a criterion thatis met when: liftoff of the contact is detected within a first timeperiod of touchdown of the contact, and the movement of the contact isgreater than a first movement threshold but less than a second movementthreshold.
 20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 19, wherein the first movement threshold and the second movementthreshold are defined in terms of contact movement needed on thetouch-sensitive surface to move the selection-indicator by a single UIelement in the user interface.
 21. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of claim 10, wherein moving the selection-indicator bythe predefined amount, and moving the selection-indicator in accordancewith the respective value of the movement metric, both comprise movingthe selection indicator in accordance with a direction of the movementof the contact on the touch-sensitive surface.
 22. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein: the plurality ofuser interface elements include a plurality of navigation columns, andmoving the selection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises movingthe selection-indicator from a first navigation column to a secondnavigation column, adjacent to the first navigation column.
 23. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein:the plurality of user interface elements include a plurality of images,and moving the selection-indicator by the predefined amount comprisesmoving the selection-indicator from a first image to a second image,adjacent to the first image.
 24. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of claim 10, wherein: the plurality of user interfaceelements include a plurality of content items in a grid arrangement, andmoving the selection-indicator by the predefined amount comprises movingthe selection-indicator from a first content item to a second contentitem, adjacent to the first content item.